The Old Parish Church Of St Peter And St Paul

The Old Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul

Church with Saxon origins, featuring a 12th century Norman tower, 13th century chancel and south transept, 14th century nave and south aisle, and a fine early 16th century north porch. The south transept was remodelled by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in the early 1840s.

The building is constructed of rubblestone with the tower, chancel and west walls rendered in mortar on the north wall. The north porch is timber framed. Plain tiled roofs cover the structure, with a wood shingled dome to the tower beneath a metal finial.

The three-stage battlemented tower to the north has quoined projection and a small window to the north face. Two stages of two-light windows are deeply recessed within arched surrounds. The roofless chancel contains a late 13th century four-centred east window and a single lancet window to the south. Two windows in the east wall display an early variety of Y tracery with two lights. The south window comprises five lights with one large quatrefoil and two smaller ones above, renewed by Pugin. Two gabled buttressed sections at the west end each contain an arched window and roundel above.

The north porch is gabled with pierced bargeboards decorated with quatrefoil patterns and rosette centres set in flowing tracery. The east side presents a twisted axis. An arched oak door with long strap hinges and a massive lock case provides entry.

The interior contains a three-bay nave arcade to the south with octagonal pedestal pillars beneath moulded capitals. Carved tower arches feature a "nutmeg" scallop pattern to the west. The nave retains a 14th century timber roof.

The church contains numerous monuments. The north nave wall displays the Merrye Monument, dedicated to Elizabeth Merrye (died 1652), an aedicular monument with broken segmental pediment in coloured stone with strapwork decoration, panelled soffit and grey inscription panel. Also on the north nave wall is a monument to George Duncombe (died 1746) in coloured stone with a grey inscription panel, crowning cartouche and coat of arms, with composite pilasters to the sides and panelled apron below.

At the west end of the south wall stands a monument to Sir Robert Godshall (died 1742) by William Bull, constructed of grey stone with a white stone cartouche on spheres and gadrooned chest, a square apron below with supporting brackets for entablature, and crossed mace and sword carving above. A 14th century marble coffin slab lies in the floor of the aisle, alongside a Weston brass set into a marble slab. A 14th century image niche is located in the west wall, and a 15th century painted St Christopher survives above the south door. A 14th century piscina is positioned in the south wall of the aisle.

The Drummond Chapel in the south transept was remodelled by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin with red and gold walls painted by T Early. The chapel features vivid stained glass by Wales, a panelled ceiling decorated in quatrefoil pattern, and billeted screen doors. A marble chest tomb dedicated to Drummond stands on a platform to the south side of the chapel.