“Complaint having bin made unto the boarde by the Inhabitants of the towne and parish of Pickering in the Countie of Yorke.  That that personage now in possession of the bishop of Bristoll Deane of Yorke (it being an indowment of the said Deanerie) such slender care hath bene had by him for the preaching of the Gospell unto the said parishioners, and giving them that Christianlike and necessarie instru[c]on which is fitting, as for a long time they scarce had any sermon at all amongest them.  Where upon their Lordships were pleased to direct their Letters unto the s^d Lord Bishop admonishing and requiring him to give speedie order for the redresse of so great an inconvenience and so scandalous to his ma^ties most Christian goverm^t.  But receaving answer from his Lordship that in respect the said [_P]sonage being an impropria[c]on is indued w^th a Vicarage and a Viccar presented thereunto he held him selfe freed in Law from any further charge, and that the said [P]snage was in Lease w^th. such other like excuses but that notwithstanding he was contented to procure them 12 sermons every yeare, their Lordships thought fitting this day to call him to the boarde, and to let him sea in reason of State, besides the great obligacon they had as Christians it behoved them to presse his Lordship notwithstanding the former excuse to have yet a further care of the teaching so great a multitude (they being 4000 people) considering how busie the priestes and Jesuits are in these dayes (especially in these quarters) not only laboring to corrupt his ma^ties subjects in their religion but also infecting them with such damnable posiciones and Doctrine touching the valew ... (?) unto his ma^ties sacred person where upon the said bishop made offer unto the boarde that he would forthwith (?) remove the vicar now there present and place in his roome some lerned and religious pastor who should as it was desired weekely preach unto the people and carefully instruct them in the points of faith and religion of which their Lordships were pleased to accept for the present, and accordingly inioyned him to the performance thereof and withall ordered the said preacher now to be presented should first be approved and allowed by the lorde Archbishop of Yorke in respect of abilitie and sufficiencie.”  This entry is thus attested:—­

  “CONCORDAT CUM REGISTRO
  FFRANCIS COTTINGTON
  LAURENCE TROTTER ATTORNIE
  EDWARD BRIGHT VICARIUS DE
  PICKERING SCRIPTOR HUIS EXEMPLARIS.”

[Illustration:  The Font of Pickering Church.

It dates in its present form from 1644, but the upper portion, which shows traces of painting, appears to be of very much earlier workmanship, and has been thought to be of Saxon origin. ]