Dubbed 'The Cathedral of the Wolds', the tower of All Saints defines Pocklington from miles around and its interior is the focal point for visitors to the town, many who are tracing their family roots.
Pocklington, Yorkshire
The church of All Saints has been at the heart of Pocklington's township and life for almost 1,400 years. It is one of only a handful of churches that can pinpoint its foundation back to Saxon times. The Sotheby Cross and its inscription 'Paulinus here preached and celebrated AD 627', takes Pocklington to the very beginning of Christianity in the north. Paulinus preached the gospel, baptized converts in the beck and celebrated communion at Pocklington.
All Saints indicates a Saxon dedication, and foundations of the Saxon church are said to have been found under the present edifice. After the north was wasted by William the Conqueror following a rebellion in 1069 the town's first stone church was built and the Domesday Book in 1086 records 'a church and a priest' at 'Poclinton'.
The present church was mainly built in the 14th century with the money raised by locals.
Significant contributions came from the de Pokelyngton family. The church tower was added 100 years later. It is 120 feet high with the upper part housing the clock with its four faces; this was fully restored in 2003. It also contains the bell chamber with a peal of eight bells.
Some of the carving, in both stone and wood, within All Saints is particularly impressive, with the Lady Chapel triptych, donated by Squire Denison, the jewel in the crown.
The churchyard, today a peaceful green oasis, has also always been a major part of town life. It has been estimated that some 10,000 Pocklington people have been buried in the church grounds. The town stocks were situated in the churchyard until the mid 19th century, and the top of the tower was used to site a warning beacon.
The ravages of traumatic events such as plague, Tudor rebellions and executions and wars, including Scottish raids, the Civil War and both World Wars, had devastating effects on both the town and the church. A memorial tablet in church records the names of the locals who gave their life in WWI, the size of Pocklington was doubled in WWII by the nearby airfield, and Pocklington streets have been named in memory of Commonwealth airmen who lost their lives.
Nunburnholme, Yorkshire
With its ancient stone cross carved by Anglo-Saxon and Viking sculptors, its Norman arch and medieval font and stained glass windows, the church spans a millennium; cross the threshold and feel yourself stepping back in time.
Fangfoss, Yorkshire
A gem not to be missed.
Bishop Wilton, Yorkshire
Known as 'The Queen of the Wolds', St Edith's is a Norman church, remodelled by JL Pearson for Sir Tatton Sykes in the mid 19th century.
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