Church Of Saint Peter

Church of Saint Peter

This parish church stands on the south side of Church Avenue in Humberston. It comprises a 15th-century tower with a nave and chancel built in 1720-2. The nave parapet was altered in 1774, and interior alterations were carried out in 1897. The tower underwent repairs in 1929, and the nave and chancel were re-roofed in 1931. Modern church rooms of no special architectural interest are attached to the south side.

The Tower

The tower is constructed of squared ironstone with limestone ashlar dressings and ashlar facing to the upper section. It rises in three stages. A moulded plinth sits above clasping buttresses with offsets. Stair-lighting slits pierce the south-west corner. Moulded string courses separate the stages. The west entrance features a pointed moulded door of two orders set beneath a hoodmould and moulded stringcourse. Above this sits a pointed three-light west window with partly restored Perpendicular tracery and hoodmould. The second stage contains a pointed two-light traceried window with hoodmould and headstops. Pointed three-light belfry openings display reticulated tracery and hoodmoulds. A moulded stringcourse runs between them, with angle gargoyles at the corners. The parapet is coped and embattled with crocketed angle pinnacles.

The Nave and Chancel

The nave and chancel are built of red brick in English bond. The plinth incorporates re-used medieval masonry, including two fragments of a 10th- to 11th-century cross-shaft carved with interlace work. The plinth carries a moulded brick cap and angle pilasters. The roof is of lead.

The building is four bays long and lit by round-headed windows to north and south, three on each side, together with single circular windows. These are accompanied by three-course brick bands and a stone-coped parapet above. A blocked opening lies beneath the north-west circular window. The east end features a wide elliptically-arched window with a small oculus in the gable above. All windows retain their original iron glazing bars and leaded lights. Pairs of downpipes run to the north and south sides, fitted with cast lead rainwater heads inscribed "H x C".

An inscribed ashlar slab dated 1774 is incorporated in the east wall. It records the burial in February 1720-21 of John Nash, "late of London master Carpenter of this Church".

Interior

The interior of the tower staircase features a small painted chamfered arch with a heavy oak door. A partly-exposed tall pointed double-chamfered tower arch springs from octagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases. The nave opens directly to the chancel.

An elliptically-arched west door to the nave has a keyed architrave and cornice above. A pair of fluted pilasters flanks the altar and east window. Fielded panelling to the nave and chancel was created in the 1890s from dismantled 18th-century box pews.

The Church contains two particularly fine marble monuments. The first is a wall monument to Matthew Humberston, dating from the first half of the 18th century and attributed to Rysbach or Sir Henry Cheere. It displays Corinthian columns flanked by foliate scrolls supporting an open pediment topped by an urn with garlands. Above carved arms is an arched niche containing a half-size female mourner leaning on a tablet bearing Humberston's portrait in relief. The lower panel is adorned with carved scallops and scrolled brackets supporting an inscription recording that Humberston "was early advanced to Several places of Trust and profit in the Custom House whereby he acquired an ample Fortune with great honour and reputation...... He gave £1,000 to rebuild this church, £500 to build a School house and 6 Almshouses..... and directed £300 to be layd out on a Monument in memory of him."

A second fine marble wall tablet commemorates members of the Humberston family, the latest being Thomas Humberston (died 1755). The inscription is set in a pilastered surround with moulded cornice carrying carved arms and an urn with figures of the Three Graces in relief against a reddish-grey obelisk. According to the inscription, the monument was "erected" in conformity with Thomas Humberston's will.

Painted Royal Arms and hatchments bearing Humberston arms are displayed in the tower and nave, dating to the 18th century.