Reverend William 'Bill' Pickering Archive

Includes letters of ordination to the role of Deacon (1931) and Priest (1932), with letter relating to the ordination ceremony (1932); licence and declaration of assent to the curacy of St Paul, Middlesbrough, 1931; licence and declaration of assent to the Conventional District of St Alban, Cottingham, 1936.
Papers relating to his appointment to the benefice of the Separate District of St Alban, Hull (1937), including order to perform two full services, memorandum of reading-in, licence, certificate of having made the declarations, and letter relating to the appointment; letter regarding the discharge of Reverend W Pickering from the British Army, 20 October 1945, and Officers’ Release Book, Class ‘A’, 24 November 1945.
Papers relating to his appointment to the benefice of the New Vicarage of Fulford, York (1948), including order to perform two full services, memorandum of reading-in, collation papers and certificate of having made the declarations.
Coat of arms of ‘Yorkshireman’, in envelope, 27 July 1959.
Correspondence relating to ordinations, undated.
Two black and white mounted photographs, presumably of Reverend W. Pickering, and one black and white photograph of Archbishop William Temple.

Pickering studied at Kelham Theological College, part of the Society of the Sacred Mission, from 1926-1931. He was ordained deacon in 1931 and priest in 1932 by the Archbishop of York. He first served as Curate of St Paul, Middlesbrough (1931-1936) then Curate-in-charge of St Alban Conventional District, Cottingham, Hull (1936-1937). Between 1937 and 1943 he served there as Minister (1937-1943), before becoming Vicar (1943-1948).
From 1940, and throughout the Second World War, Pickering served as Chaplain to the Forces, gaining the honorary rank of Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class at the time of his discharge in 1945.
Pickering continued his army association, acting as Chaplain to the Forces (Territorial Army) from 1947-1957. He received a Territorial Decoration in 1955 which was granted for a minimum of 20 years commissioned service in the Territorial Army, with service in the ranks counting half and his war service counting double.
Later, Pickering served as Vicar of Fulford in the City and Diocese of York from 1948 to his death in 1968. He was also Chaplain of Fulford and Naburn hospitals from 1954 to 1968.
He married Joan Grimwood and they had one son, Christopher, in December 1938.

Arrived in similar order, chronological structure refined by Borthwick.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.
24 hours' notice is required to access photographic material.

Transferred to the Diocese of York by the depositor, January 2023, before they transferred the archive to the archives service, February 2023.

Pickering studied at Kelham Theological College, part of the Society of the Sacred Mission, from 1926-1931. He was ordained deacon in 1931 and priest in 1932 by the Archbishop of York. He first served as Curate of St Paul, Middlesbrough (1931-1936) then Curate-in-charge of St Alban Conventional District, Cottingham, Hull (1936-1937). Between 1937 and 1943 he served there as Minister (1937-1943), before becoming Vicar (1943-1948).
From 1940, and throughout the Second World War, Pickering served as Chaplain to the Forces, gaining the honorary rank of Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class at the time of his discharge in 1945.
Pickering continued his army association, acting as Chaplain to the Forces (Territorial Army) from 1947-1957. He received a Territorial Decoration in 1955 which was granted for a minimum of 20 years commissioned service in the Territorial Army, with service in the ranks counting half and his war service counting double.
Later, Pickering served as Vicar of Fulford in the City and Diocese of York from 1948 to his death in 1968. He was also Chaplain of Fulford and Naburn hospitals from 1954 to 1968.
He married Joan Grimwood and they had one son, Christopher, in December 1938.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Collected by Rev. Pickering and given to his wife, Joan (nee Grimwood) after his death. After her death the papers passed to their son, Christopher Pickering, and after his death they passed to his cousin Mrs Mary Lee (nee Grimwood). After Mrs Lee's death, the papers came to her son, James Lee, who donated them to the Diocese of York.

No further accruals expected.

* Parish records of Fulford (PR/FUL)

Published