Parish Church Of Ss Peter And Paul

TL 74 NE 18/57

CLARE Parish Church of SS Peter & Paul

19.12.61

GV I

A random flint church with ashlar dressings. The lower part of the tower is C13 and the upper part is of the C15. The south porch is circa 1380, with a groin vaulted chamber above and a vaulted bone house or ossuary beneath. The north porch is of a somewhat later date. In circa 1460 the nave and chancel were rebuilt and the north and south aisles were widened. The clustered shafts of the C13 columns were re-used, with C15 bases and caps. The chancel arch is flanked by 2 stone staircases to the former rood loft and the towers are carried up above the roof and are terminated by crocketted pinnacles. The north and south doors are C16, carved and traceried. The north door has an ogee headed wicket within the main door. The south door has a chapel adjoining on the east side with the vaulted bone house continued beneath it. There is heraldic glass in the east window of 1717 commemorating benefactors, Sir George Hunt Knight, Sir John Higham, Sir Thomas Barnadiston, Sir Stephen Sonnes, Sir William Storton and the Honourable Company of Haberdashers. Part of the C15 roof screen remains in the south chancel aisle and there is a parclose screen with fine cresting. In the south aisle, above the arch to the south chapel there isan interesting Jacobean gallery. The stalls are C17 with parts of the pew ends of C15 poppy-head work incorporated. There is a fine early C16 brass eagle lectern, also used as a money box, supported on 3 collarer dogs. An early C15 octagonal font has a traceried shaft. Above the south porch there is a 1790 sundial bearing the motto "Go about your business."

The Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul with No 15 (The Vicarage), Wall to the Vicarge, Nos 17 to 22 (consec), No 23 (Church Farmhouse), No 26 (The Ancient House) and No 27 High Street form a group. The church also forms a group with all the listed buildings in Church Street.

Listing NGR: TL7696445461