Church Of St Peter And St Paul

Church of St Peter and St Paul

This parish church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, with major restoration work undertaken in 1876–8 by Ewan Christian and again in 1954–5. The building is constructed in ashlar with lead roofs on all sections except the chancel, which has plain tile. A single 20th-century ashlar and brick stack rises from the north chancel. The chancel and nave have coped gables with single ridge crosses to their east ends. The nave features a 19th-century parapet. All sections except the chancel are buttressed.

The plan comprises a tower, nave, aisles, south porch and chancel. The 15th-century tower is angle-buttressed, embattled, and set on a moulded plinth, rising through three stages. The embattlements include some blind tracery. On the west side is a moulded arched doorway with a double 19th-century door, above which sits a single restored arched 3-light window with panel tracery, hood mould and label stops. Three rectangular stair lights pierce the tower. A tall narrow ashlar lean-to projects from the south side, with a single stair light. The east side has a single stair light. The four 15th-century arched bell chamber openings each contain 3 cinquefoil cusped lights with hood mould and label stops. Clock faces sit below the south and east openings.

The north aisle is set on a moulded plinth with a continuous sill band forming a hood mould over the doorway. Its north wall has a moulded arched doorway; to the left is a single arched 14th-century 3-light window with flowing tracery, hood mould and label stops, and further left another single arched 14th-century 3-light window with reticulated tracery, hood mould and label stops. The east wall contains a single arched 14th-century 3-light window with flowing tracery and hood mould. The clerestory has four 19th-century segmental pointed arched windows, each with 2 arched and cusped lights, hood mould and label stops.

The 19th-century chancel stands on a high plinth with a continuous sill band. Its north wall has a single flight of steps leading down to a doorway, with a single opening to the right and a single small quatrefoil above. Above these are four lancets with hood moulds and label stops. The east wall has a single arched 19th-century 3-light window with reticulated tracery and hood mould. The south wall has four lancets with hood moulds and label stops, below which is a chamfered arched doorway.

The south aisle is set on a low chamfered plinth with a continuous sill band broken by the porch. Its east wall has a single 19th-century arched 3-light window with flowing tracery, hood mould and label stops. Below this is an ashlar plaque inscribed "1677". The south wall has two arched 3-light windows: the right-hand one retains restored 14th-century reticulated tracery with hood mould, while the left-hand one features 19th-century flowing tracery, hood mould and label stops.

The gabled porch has a moulded arched entrance supported on two colonnettes with moulded capitals and shaft rings, hood mould and label stops, and a 19th-century wooden gate. Its side walls each have a single pair of arched and cusped lights, and an inner chamfered arched doorway. To the left is a single similar 19th-century window with flowing tracery.

Interior

The nave has 14th-century double chamfered arcades supported on octagonal piers and responds with moulded capitals. A tall moulded tower arch opens into the nave. The chancel arch is also double chamfered, supported on octagonal responds with capitals. Flanking the arch are single corbels supporting shields of arms. The east window area is defined by a continuous sill band of chevron work, while the north and south chancel windows each have continuous sill bands beneath them.

An octagonal ashlar font on a pedestal dates to the mid-17th century and is decorated with stylised lozenges, fleur-de-lys and foliate shapes. The church contains a wooden chest of uncertain date and a 17th-century metal chest, along with a 17th-century alms box. Most other furniture is 19th-century.

The south chapel, separated by a parclose screen, contains significant monuments. On its east wall is a decorative bracket supporting a carved bust by Nollekens to Elizabeth Ellis (died 1761). Below the east window is a large wall tablet supported on three brackets, commemorating Sir Michael Stanhope (1587). On the south wall stands a 19th-century monument with colonnettes and shaft rings flanked by decorated capitals, supporting an entablature with fleuron and topped by two angels. Two decorative alabaster shields of arms lie beneath the south-east window.

The monument to Katherine Stanhope (1636) has a foliate surround flanked by single vase pilasters with decorative capitals, supporting a segmental pediment containing a shield of arms, with a decorative swag on the apron. The monument to Lady Georgiana West (died 1824) is by Chantrey and depicts a kneeling figure above the inscription tablet.

Floor slabs mark the burials of Arthur Charles Stanhope (1770) and John Stanhope (1800). A further floor slab to Charles Stanhope (1712) has a shield over the inscription. Another floor slab, dating to the 15th century, bears an incised carved and defaced figure. The front of the tomb is decorated with eight kneeling figures and the sides with three swaddling figures and a coat of arms.

On the east window sill is a fragment reputed to be an alum weight. A section of a 10th-century cross shaft survives, decorated with the Madonna and Child, a winged angel holding a book, and knotwork.

The west wall of the south aisle contains a wall tablet to Revd. Gabriel Wayne (died 1771). The nave roof is supported on corbels, including one on the north-west side representing an angel. The east window was made by Kempe in 1897.