Church Of St Peter

Church of St Peter is a church dating from 1844, designed by E.H. Shellard. It is constructed from coursed sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings, and has a slate roof. The church comprises a six-bay aisled nave with a west tower, and a four-bay chancel, accompanied by a north vestry and a south chapel. The design is in the Early English style.

The four-stage west tower features set-back half-height buttresses continuing as corner pilasters, octagonal corners to the belfry stage, and a plain parapet. It has a two-centred arched west doorway with shafts and roll-moulding, a three-light west window, an oculus within a crocketed diamond surround, a clock face, and coupled louvred belfry windows moulded in two orders, also with shafts. The west ends of the aisles are marked by tall lancets with shafts, and corner pinnacles. The south aisle is buttressed with coupled lancets in a similar style, and has a double-chamfered doorway in the first bay, featuring shafts and a steep gable. The north aisle is plainer, with plain chamfered lancets. The chancel features a large five-light east window with bar tracery, and coupled lancets to the sides.

The interior of the chancel includes a carved stone reredos dating from 1887, with marble shafts, a carved communion rail, and choir stalls with shafted Early English blind arcading to the front. An encaustic tile floor was laid in 1867. Stained glass is present in the east window, dating from 1869, and was likely created by Lavers and Barraud. The roof is panelled, with arched braces supported on corbels. The nave has arcades with quatrefoil piers and an open truss roof with hammerbeams and curved braces. Galleries are located on three sides, with shafted Early English blind arcading to the front. A complete set of box pews is housed within the galleries, alongside some open benches to the west end. The nave and aisles contain a complete set of Gothick box pews with poppyhead shaped ends, as well as higher churchwardens’ pews to the west end. There is an arcaded Early English style pulpit and font. Some 19th-century heraldic and patterned stained glass is incorporated into the lower parts of the aisle windows. The west wall displays a large Royal Arms and a collection of 18th and early 19th century memorials, transferred from the earlier church on the site.

The church was built as a Commissioners’ church and cost £3,162. It is notable for its complete 19th-century interior, particularly the exceptional survival of the box and other pews.