St Andrew
Pickworth, Lincolnshire
This rural church contains extensive wall paintings that were hidden from view until a bomb dropped nearby in World War Two, disturbing the plaster, which was removed, revealing the medieval wall paintings.
The first thing that strikes the visitor to St James is the quality of light. This was remarked upon by the panel of judges in Country Life Magazine's 2009 Village Church for Village Life competition. In 2010 a re-ordering of the west end of the church was undertaken, to facilitate church use by the whole community. As part of this project, the tower meeting room was created. Above this room hangs the glorious Royal Arms, which were removed from the chancel arch in 1857 when the chancel was extensively restored.
The church is largely 14th century but 13th and 15th century work can be identified. The simplicity of the interior serves to emphasise the high quality detailing of the architecture, exemplified by the magnificent tower arch. Visitors will notice the huge blocked in arches in the tower, possible indications of a grand design which was never completed.
The remains of a Knights Templar preceptory stand opposite the church; the church's first recorded incumbent was Geoffrey de Temple.
The church contains many fine examples of historic graffiti, both in the stone and on the lead. Amongst the many interesting names inscribed in the porch and tower is that of a highwayman called Spence Broughton. He was hanged in York and gibbetted at the scene of his crime in Sheffield for 36 years. He became the subject of folk song and fable, with a tale of two finger bones being stolen, spending the night in the jail at the Chapel on the Bridge in Rotherham and then being added to the Broughton Jug.
An inscription on the tower lead, commemorating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee was discovered at the time of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. A letter from Her Majesty expressing her interest in the find is on display in church.
In 2022, a Heritage Lottery funded project involving adults living with young-onset dementia led to the creation of a unique audio trail, Aslackby Voices Through Time's Pulsating Ebb and Flow. Five ethereal figures sit in church to tell the stories of five extraordinary lives which began in Aslackby. One of these is John Dods, an Aslackby labourer who sailed to the New World on John Smith's expedition in 1606, and was one of only three survivors of the original company after the 'starvinge tyme'. A true founding father of America.