Church Of St Peter

Church of St Peter

An Anglican parish church of medieval origins with major 19th-century reconstruction. The building combines 16th-century work in ashlar limestone with additions of 1857-8 designed by J.L. Pearson. The 19th-century portions are constructed in flint banded with limestone ashlar and brick, with tiled roofing, while the medieval work retains lead roofs.

The church comprises a north porch with tower over and north chapel (both 15th to 16th century), and a nave and chancel in one, largely a rebuilding of the original medieval work. The medieval stonework displays 3 and 4-light trefoil-headed windows set in deep casement-moulded reveals with hoodmoulds topped by sculptured and heraldic terminals. A crenellated parapet with gargoyles runs along the medieval sections. The doorway beneath the tower features wave moulding with arms in the spandrels. The tower itself rises in two stages, the upper stage containing 2 tiers of pointed lights beneath a crenellated parapet with corner pinnacles. The inner door is also wave moulded. The 19th-century work exhibits tightly cusped 2-light windows in Perpendicular style, brick relieving arches and eaves courses, with some brick decoration to the chancel. The east window contains 3 lights.

Interior features include a porch with a squint through the north chapel walls to the high altar. The north chapel contains a high trefoiled piscina and heraldic corbels flanking the east window. A three-centred arch with panelled soffit marks the transition to the nave. A moulded timber ceiling covers the porch. The chapel appears to be the Chancey chapel, founded or embellished before 1524. The nave comprises 6 bays roofed with a fine open timber arch-braced roof on corbels, displaying 2 tiers of windbraces. The chancel has a slightly lower trussed rafter roof. A piscina with shelf is present, and the south chancel window sill has been lowered to serve as a sedilia. Pearson's 19th-century intervention is considered a good example of his early church work.

All interior fittings date to the 19th century. The octagonal stone font and oak pulpit are contemporary with Pearson's restoration. A late medieval chancel screen survives, featuring single-light panels with crossed tracery and painted decoration. A similarly late medieval screen encloses the chapel. An organ is also present.

The monument collection is extensive. In the nave's north wall are three wall tablets in white marble on grey. The centre tablet, dated 1783 and by Westmacott Junior, bears an inscription on drapery draped over an arrow, commemorating Thomas, Henry, and Sarah Fowle of Wilsford and Durrington. To the left, a pedimented and aproned aedicule of 1763 by Hicks of Newbury honours Sarah Mundy. To the right, a plain tablet of 1820 by King of Bath commemorates Mary Jane Bloxam (née Fowle). The nave's south wall contains two white marble tablets on grey. To the east, a suspended scroll tablet of 1860 by C. Salmon of Devizes commemorates Henry and Mary Wansborough. To the west, a plain tablet of 1932 records Col. Thomas Fowle.

The chancel contains eight wall tablets in white marble on grey. On the north side are (a) a tapered panel by Hare of Marlborough to Charles Pinckney, died 1820; (b) an oval tablet with obelisk over panel by C. Viner of Bath to William Pinckney, died 1811; (c) a gabled panel to Robert Pinckney, died 1810; (d) a panel with arms above recording Pinckney family members, including a Marshall of the Horse to Queen Anne and George I, dating to the 18th century; (e) a panel with arms above and cherub below to Francis Gifford of Upavon, died 1802, recording a benefaction; (f) a plain tablet to John Price of Wolfhall, died 1837. On the south side are (g) a corniced tablet by Rogers of Bath to the Pinckney family, dated 1862, and (h) a 20th-century terrazzo tablet to recent Pinckney family members. Two decalogue boards in stone Gothic frames flank the altar.

Brasses include a 1524 example in the north chapel to William and Marion Chancey, showing figures with arms above and an inscription recording the building or embellishment of the chapel. Brasses by the reading desk commemorate John Mundy (died 1674) and Bridgett Mundy (died 1691).

Historical note: In the churchyard lies Mary, wife of Stephen Duck, the 'Thresher Poet', born in Charlton in 1765. Duck became a protégé of Queen Caroline and served as keeper of her library at Richmond from 1735. He was ordained in 1746 and is commemorated by an annual feast and toasts held in the Charlton Cat public house, dated 1821 and subsequently altered.