The pulpit is to be found in the Anglican Parish Church of St. Michael at Heighington in County Durham. It dates from the beginning of the sixteenth century – not long before the Reformation

It seems to be the oldest pulpit in our part of the world. There are others further south but for our part of the world it is a remarkable survival.

It was probably used at Mass for preaching. Sometimes a preacher might speak on another occasion outside the celebration of the Liturgy.

It may also have been used for reading the ‘Bede Roll’. Here ‘Bede’ means ‘bid’, just as we have today ‘the Bidding Prayer’.