Parish Church of St Peter

Parish Church of St Peter

This is a parish church of considerable historical importance, with origins in the 12th century and significant development through the medieval period.

The church was substantially rebuilt and restored during the late 19th century under the direction of Ewan Christian between 1884 and 1891. The most prominent external feature is the three-stage tower, dating to the 12th century, which is topped with a lead-covered spirelet from the 18th century. The tower displays slender attached columns with capitals and bases, loop windows in the lower stage, and paired belfry windows with chamfered round arches and shafted jambs. Weathered gargoyles sit at the cornice beneath the 15th-century embattled parapet. The tower stands on a chamfered plinth.

The main body of the church is constructed of flint and pebble rubble with Barnack limestone and clunch dressings. The north and south aisles date to the late 14th century, as does the tower roof with its cross frame braced to wall posts. The chancel was rebuilt in the 18th century but retains one original window from the 14th or 15th century and features its original gable and chamfered plinth. The nave and south aisle have embattled parapets, and three restored clerestory windows and south aisle windows of 14th-century date with two-centred arched heads survive, with some original clunch retained.

The south porch is late 14th or early 15th century in origin, restored with 18th-century red brick. It has a plain parapet and a two-centred arched opening with square head and quartrefoiled spandrels. The original south doorway has a two-centred arch of two chamfered orders and preserves its original 14th-century plank door. The chancel contains a priest's doorway with a restored two-centred arch.

Interior features include nave arcades of three bays on each side, with responds of wave and hollow chamfered orders supporting columns of four semi-octagonal shafts, each with moulded capitals and bases. The chancel arch is similar in detail. The tower arch is a wide round-headed opening with a roll-moulded edge and chamfered abacii, with jambs bearing attached shafts, cushion capitals, and plain bases. A late 14th-century belfry stair features a four-centred arched doorway with an original door displaying integral moulded fillets to the moulded planks.

The nave roof, restored in three bays, displays short king posts with moulded tie beams pierced at the spandrels and braced to wall posts or to carved stone crockets. The aisle roofs are restored. Fifteenth-century niches to aisle chapels survive, though those in the south aisle are defaced. A piscina in the south aisle has a cinquefoiled head.

The early 18th-century pulpit has been restored, and a barley twist balustered communion rail also dates to this period. Nineteenth-century floor tiles line the chancel. The font is 12th century, featuring a chamfered square bowl on a solid clunch base with attached columns at each corner and two crudely carved traceried panels.

The restoration directed by Ewan Christian added a small vestry to the north of the chancel and decorated the sanctuary with marble mosaic work by Powell of White Friars.

The church contains numerous monuments of note. In the chancel are several black marble memorials, including one with a triangular plaque and urn above drapery to Bridget, wife of Rev. Christopher Hand, who died in 1798; a classical pedimented design with inscription to Tho Harris, who died in 1738; and floor slabs to Sara Fisher, wife of Edmund Fisher (1789), and to Richard Trott and his wife. A floor slab records entry to the vault of Richard Crop, who died in 1792. Grey marble with a white plaque and fluted pilastered surround commemorates Richard Crop of Westoe Lodge, who died in 1796. A marble plaque with gilded mosaic margins and two angels honours Louisa Carter, wife of Rev. Carter (died 1898), and their daughter Sara, as well as Henry Carter (died 1904).

A 19th-century tower clock by Chas Potts and Co. Ltd. remains in situ. The roof coverings are leaded throughout.