| Where | Great Broughton Village Hall | Type of Event | Illustrated Talk |
| When | Monday 19th May 2025 | Tutor | Kate Giles |
The lecture was delivered by Kate Giles, who is a Professor in historic buildings in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York. Dr Giles is also Co-Director of the University’s Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture. Kate has a well-deserved reputation as a scholar in this field. We had a good sized audience. Kate’s lecture was clear, lively and well organised. This was a well- researched and mastered subject.
Pickering Church was regarded by Pevsner as an important medieval church on an Anglo-Danish site. By the 14thcentury the church had become highly decorated. In the 16th century, during the Reformation, the paintings were covered in whitewash. The existence of the paintings appears to have been forgotten. They were revealed by plaster accidentally falling off the wall in 1852. The then vicar did not like them and seemed to be at odds with the Archbishop about their preservation. The vicar, Mr Ponsonby, against the wishes of the Archbishop, had the paintings whitewashed again. The parishioners, however, wanted the work done. In 1876 a new vicar decided to have the paintings restored and work began in 1882 with much over-painting. Further work was done over time but not, it seems, as successfully as one might hope. The work proceeds.
On a different note, in the intervening period between 1852 and 1876 there was a vicar (1866-1881) to whom scandal attached. From the more serious consideration of restoration the audience was introduced to “goings on”, as a result of which the vicar was suspended. There was also a case in court and the story was even reported in U.S.A.
The next part of the lecture was a consideration of the paintings, which were probably executed in the 1470s. They were meant to teach the stories of the saints. Apart from images of saints other religious events and modes of living were also depicted.
The material was absorbing and the audience was attentive. The time passed easily and the audience was informed and entertained. There were questions at the end of the presentation and some continued into the later evening. An enjoyable evening.