Church Of St Peter

The Church of St Peter is a medieval church, extensively restored in 1851. It comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, north and south aisles, north and south transeptal chapels, and a south porch. Constructed of flint rubble with some limestone rubble, it features limestone and clunch dressings, crenellated parapets, and parapet-gables. The roofs are slate on the nave, chancel, and porch, with flat roofs elsewhere.

The church’s construction can be divided into four phases. Fragments of the C12 nave remain, with walling and limestone quoins incorporating engaged columns and chamfered abaci from the earlier nave. An Early C14 three-stage tower was added, featuring a parapet cornice with closely-spaced mask ornament and three carved gargoyles. The belfry has two-light openings on all sides, flanked by side lights, and a two-light west window above a moulded doorway. A blocked sanctus bell opening and chamfered tower arch are also present. Around 1500, the main body of the church was virtually rebuilt, likely in stages, and subsequently restored in 1851.

Large, mostly three- and four-light windows, many with transoms, are characteristic of the C16 rebuilding. Moulded doorways are present, one of which was blocked, formerly leading to an anchorite’s cell that has since been demolished. The nave arcades have embattled capitals to attached shafts. The nave roof is a six-bay structure with hammer beams, arch-braces to high collars, short kingposts, and a deep cornice with a carved angel in each bay. The chancel roof is similarly constructed in five bays.

The chancel contains a piscina with a traceried head, another piscina is found in the south transept (only the pillar and base remain in the north transept), and a complete roodloft stair is present on the north side, alongside corbels for two images and a niche for a third. A C16 octagonal limestone font, heavily recut and bearing emblems of the Passion in panels, is complemented by a fine C16 cover of cupola form with crockets on each rib. Four C16 bench ends are incorporated into C19 choirstalls, featuring carved animals. A wall tablet commemorates Francis Seyliard, rector, in 1676. Marble floor slabs are present, dated 1729 in the chancel and 1699 in the north transept. A fragment of limestone in the south aisle displays two crudely carved human figures in relief, dating back to the C12 or earlier, possibly from a tympanum. The C16 stonework was extensively restored in 1851, and the south porch and other furnishings were added at that time.