Frickley Church – The Church in the Fields
Tucked away in the South Yorkshire countryside stands a church that quietly holds centuries of history – Frickley Church, often referred to as “the church in the fields.” It’s a place I’ve returned to more than once, camera in hand, drawn in by the solitude and the stories etched into every stone.
On my latest visit, I found myself reflecting on just how unusual its setting is. Standing alone in open farmland, it begs the question – why is there a church here with nothing around it?
The answer lies in its haunting past. By 1650, Frickley Church stood alone, the surrounding village having all but vanished. One of the major turning points in its history came during the Black Death of 1349–50, which severely affected the area. The population dwindled, homes were lost, and slowly, the village faded away, leaving the church as a lone witness to centuries of change.
I took two photographs that day – one in colour, the other in black and white. There's something about churchyards that suits monochrome photography. Black and white captures the timeless atmosphere, the texture of the stone, and the quiet stillness in a way that colour sometimes can’t. Yet the colour image brings out the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and the warmth of the weathered church walls.
It made me wonder – when it comes to places like this, which do people connect with more: the stark emotion of black and white, or the richness of colour?
If you’re ever near Frickley, it’s worth taking the walk across the fields to visit. It’s not just a church; it’s a reminder of lives once lived and the stories that still linger in the silence.