A Pulpit for Duck Hunting
Kirklington St.Swithin's Church in 1982
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Curious historical use of church furniture
In their book "English Church Furniture", Cox and Harvey* record the following anecdote about the pulpit in the parish church of St.Swithin at Kirklington:-
"In the pulpit sides are some holes filled up with more recent wood.
The explanation is that a sporting rector of the beginning of the 19th century used to have this pulpit, which was loose from its base, carried down on weekdays to a swamp in the parish frequented by wild duck, where it served as a screen for the parson when firing at the birds through the holes made for that purpose"
* COX, J. Charles & HARVEY, Alfred English Church Furniture (London: Methuen & Co., 1907)