Parish Church Of St Peter

The Parish Church of St Peter is a 12th-century church with significant alterations and rebuilding through the 13th to 19th centuries. Only parts of the original 12th-century fabric remain, including the chancel arch, some adjacent walling, and portions of the north wall of the nave. The chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century, during which the nave was lengthened, a south arcade and aisle were added, and the lower portion of the west tower was constructed. In the 14th century, a north porch was added (later rebuilt), and the nave was heightened, with new windows inserted into the north wall. The upper part of the tower was completed in the 15th century, and in the 16th century, the south aisle was enlarged to create a south chapel. The 18th century saw the destruction of the west part of the aisle and the blocking of arches. The church was restored in 1893-4 under the supervision of Thomas Hardy, and a vestry was likely added at this time.

The church is built of stone rubble with some flint. Roofs are covered with stone slates, lead, and tiles. The chancel has a plinth on the east wall. The east window is likely 14th century, with mullions and tracery removed. A doorway on the north wall has a chamfered two-centred head and jambs, alongside a small lancet window. A shallow 12th-century buttress is on the north wall, alongside a section rebuilt in the 17th century and a 13th-century west wall. A 15th-century window east of the porch features three lights with restored panel tracery; a similar window to the west has been reset and restored. The south arcade comprises four segmental pointed arches, carried on circular piers with moulded capitals and chamfered bases. A restored four-centred doorway leads through. The south chapel has a north arcade of two round arches springing from a chamfered rectangular pier and responds with chamfered imposts. A 13th-century lancet window is in the east wall, while the south wall features a 16th-century window of three uncusped pointed lights in a square head. The west wall has been rebuilt in flint, with a reset 13th-century lancet. The west tower is divided into three stages by strings and has a plain parapet with moulded coping. A restored lancet is on the west wall, and windows with two trefoiled lights with pierced spandrels in square heads are on the second stage of each wall. The north porch has an outer doorway with a chamfered arched head and continuous jambs, with a flat lintel behind the arch.

Inside, the south chapel has a flat, 18th-century ceiling. The chancel and nave roofs are of heavy king post construction, dating from 1893-4. Stone brackets in the nave, one with a roll moulding and carved palmette, are likely from the 13th century and supported a rood beam. A wall monument in the chancel south wall commemorates Elizabeth, wife of Richard Warde, 1635. Another monument in the nave commemorates John Adair Hawkins and Jane Hawkins, 1842 and 1863 respectively. An early 18th-century painting on the nave east wall depicts Jehovah within a rayed triangle.