Church of St Peter

The Church of St Peter is a parish church dating back to the mid-12th century, with alterations around 1300 and a restoration in 1885 by F Preedy. It is constructed of sandstone with a tile roof and comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle and a north chapel added by Preedy.

The nave’s south wall has three bays separated by stepped buttresses. The two eastern bays have windows with semicircular heads and two trefoiled lights, dating from 1885. The west bay contains a mid-12th century south door with a semicircular head featuring zig-zag ornament and spiral-fluted columns. Above the door is a semicircular recess containing a relief of Christ seated and blessing. A Romanesque revival bellcote stands at the east end.

The chancel has two bays, incorporating a priests’ door to the left of centre. The east window is a semicircular-headed window with two pointed lights. The north chapel displays a Romanesque revival blind arcade of five arches with a rose window. The north aisle’s north door is largely a restored Norman doorway. The west window, originally from the chancel, is comprised of two lancets with a trefoil in the spandrel.

Inside, the nave features a semicircular-headed chancel arch with scalloped capitals and a three-bay arcade to the north aisle with similar capitals. The north aisle has a Romanesque revival arch to its east end, leading to an apse containing an Italianate stone canopy over the altar, with another Romanesque revival arch leading to the north chapel. The chancel includes a small piscina in the south wall. The chancel roof is 14th century, but extensively restored. The nave has a late 19th century collar-rafter roof.

Fittings include a late 19th century Italianate stone altar and a late 19th century Gothic style screen. Two early 17th century pulpits, originally from elsewhere, are also present, alongside a 15th century style font. The north chapel houses several monuments of the Rous family, notably those to Edward Rous (died 1611) and his wife (died 1580), a chest tomb with a canopy on Tuscan columns surmounted by two obelisks flanking an armorial achievement; and to Frances Rous (died 1715, daughter of Thomas Archer, architect) depicting a seated lady holding a heart next to an urn with two doves, flanked by two Corinthian columns, with an attic containing a medallion of her husband, topped by an open segmental pediment. Additionally, the chapel holds architectural fragments, including an elaborately carved Anglo-Danish stone of uncertain function.