Church Of St Peter

The Church of St Peter was built in 1897 by J.T. Micklethwaite. It is constructed from stock brick, rendered with pebble dash, and has red brick dressings, with a plain-tile roof. The church is built in the Gothic style, its design simplified by a lack of funds, resulting in the non-construction of the aisles, tower, and north chapel. The present layout consists of a nave and chancel as one space, with a south vestry, and north and south porches. The east end features a five-light window with Decorated tracery, while the north wall has two small windows, a projecting arch, five quatrefoils forming a clerestory, and a north porch. The south wall incorporates a three-light window with Reticulated tracery over the vestry, various small windows in the base of the intended tower, which has a bellcote on its roof, further windows, the south porch, and clerestory quatrefoils. The west end has a five-light window with intersecting tracery.

The interior contrasts significantly with the exterior and is richly furnished. The east window contains stained glass by Kempe and Co., dating from 1911, and is accompanied by a richly carved reredos of 1913. An elaborate screen and altar rails were created by Ernest Beckwith of Coggeshall, based on designs by Wykeham Chancellor. Also present are fine choir stalls and a pulpit. The nave contains a complete set of pews. The interior’s rich effect is largely achieved through the addition of intended aisle arcades and a boarded wagon roof, similar to that in the chancel. A stone font sits at the west end, and the west window contains very fine stained glass, incorporating marbled glass, from 1928, created by Leonard Walker. A more recent addition is a bronze statue of St. Peter by John Doubleday. The church is notable as a late Victorian church by a distinguished architect, and although unfinished, it possesses a spacious interior with rich fittings from the early 20th century, including fine woodwork and stained glass. The west window of 1928 is particularly unusual and striking.