Church Of St Peter

The Church of St Peter is a medieval church located in Offord Darcy. Its origins lie in the 12th century, with a nave, chancel, and north aisle initially constructed. The chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century, and the south aisle, west tower, and spire were added in the 14th century. Subsequently, the north aisle underwent rebuilding in the 15th century. The north arcade and west tower with its spire are particularly noteworthy elements. The church is primarily built of pebble and freestone, with dressings of Barnack stone.

The late 14th-century west tower features a broach spire, embattled with gargoyles at the corners and divided into three stages on a splayed plinth. The west window of this tower, also dating to the late 14th century, has three cinquefoil lights within a two-centred head and exhibits hollow chamfered reveals. Similar hollow chamfers define the two cinquefoil light bell stage openings on each wall. The broach spire is constructed of Barnack ashlar and features two tiers of gabled spire lights. In the late 15th century, the nave roof was raised, and a clerestory was introduced; the line of the original gable remains visible in the southwest wall. The clerestory in the south wall includes four windows, each with two trefoil lights within four-centred heads.

The south aisle, dating to the 14th century, has a slate roof with a modern parapet. An ornamental band of carved ball finials and two beast gargoyles are positioned at eaves level. Three windows with two cinquefoil lights and flowing tracery are present. The south porch, originating in the 14th century, has been restored and possesses an outer arch that is two-centred with two chamfered orders on chamfered and stopped responds. The inner arch to the south aisle doorway is also 14th-century, featuring two wave-moulded orders in two-centred arches, along with a label with a filleted moulding and mask stops. The chancel roof is from the 19th century.

The 13th-century chancel has one 15th-century window and one 13th-century lancet window on each side. A 13th-century south doorway is also present. The east window of the chancel dates to the late 15th century.

Inside, the 13th-century north arcade consists of three bays with round-headed, roll-moulded arches supported by square piers with square abaci and attached shafts at the angles, culminating in cushion capitals. The 14th-century south arcade has four bays, with two-centred arches incorporating columns formed of four attached filleted shafts, moulded capitals, and bases. The nave and aisle roofs are 19th-century. A fine 13th-century piscina is located at the east end of the south aisle, featuring an octagonal marble column and two-centred arches with trefoil heads, rib vaulting with a mask boss, and a drain in the form of a shell. A late 16th-century chancel arch, two-centred with two chamfered orders, sits opposite the piscina. The inner order is characterized by half-octagonal shafts with moulded capitals and bases. A 13th-century double piscina is situated in the south wall of the chancel. Monuments include 14th-century slabs in the north aisle depicting male and female figures, and a monument to Richard Nailour (1616) in the south aisle, featuring alabaster kneeling figures flanked by Doric pilasters with an entablature and segmental pediment. A partial 14th-century screen with tracery to ogee heads and roundels to spandrels separates the nave and chancel.