Church Of St Peter

The Church of St Peter is a parish church located in Carlton, which was combined with Kelsale parish in 1884. It dates back to the medieval period and underwent restorations in 1872 and 1887. The church features a nave, chancel, west tower, and south porch, constructed from random flint rubble with stone dressings and a red brick tower, all topped with plaintiled roofs.

The early 16th-century tower consists of four stages, adorned with a crenellated parapet and diagonal buttresses on the west side. A chimney was added to the northeast corner, likely in the 19th century. The tower has a blocked west doorway with a hoodmould above it, and a later two-light Y tracery window situated above. The bell chamber openings are simple one-light designs, and the lower part of the tower displays some diaper work in dark headers.

The nave and chancel are characterized by early 14th-century two-light Y tracery windows: there are two on the north side of the nave, two on the chancel (along with a Priest's doorway), and one on the south side of the nave, with two in the chancel. The east window is a renewed three-light design in the Decorated style. The south porch is simple in design.

Inside, the chancel has a trussed rafter roof, while the nave roof is plastered and features a moulded wall plate. The church contains a modern font, a well-carved pulpit dated 1626, and a holy table dated 1630. There are three 15th-century poppyhead bench ends in the nave, and the chancel stalls also have poppyhead ends, mostly with traceried designs. Some 18th-century panelling in the nave likely comes from former box pews. Above the chancel arch, the Royal Arms are displayed. The chancel floor features two small late 15th-century effigy brasses commemorating civilians and an 18th-century ledger slab. The church is listed as Grade II* due to its surviving medieval fabric.