A vicar in Yorkshire will live like a hermit as part of a medieval re-enactment this May.

It's part of a celebrations for St Mary's Church in Hook near Goole which is celebrating its 800-year anniversary.

Revd. Philip Ball,  a Church of England vicar for Airmyn, Hook, and Rawcliffe, plans to wear simple sackcloth robes with a hood to be as authentic as possible.  In a further attempt to get into character he'll also be sleeping in a rough shelter as well as 'guarding' the gate to where the other re-enactors will be camping.

He's even offered to put himself into the stocks and be hit with wet sponges as part of proceedings.

Stocks - also know as the pillory - were used as a form of public punishment and humiliation in medieval England and Europe.

The themed days are all part of plans to bring to life the history of the church and its surrounding area.  According to historical records, the very first resident is thought to be a hermit dating from 1190.

35 years later, the chantry chapel of St Mary's was established. 

A chantry chapel is a place of worship that would have been attached to a larger church and is usually used for prayer, specifically for the dead.  It later became a parish church following the Reformation.

Recently, St Mary's has undergone a series of renovations including a new kitchen and disabled toilet. It is currently on the Heritage at risk register and also needs repairs to its roof and stonework, which could cost as much as £300k.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post Revd Ball said: "It is not often you get to have an 800th birthday party and try to reflect on, capture and celebrate how over 800 years a place has contributed to so many lives, but it is the privilege of the people of the village of Hook and particularly those with close involvement to the church to be doing this.”