Church Of St Peter

Church of St Peter, Southrop

Parish church built in the early 12th century with a 13th-century chancel and early 14th-century transept. The building was restored in 1852 and again in 1895. It is constructed of random rubble limestone with considerable areas of herringbone work, and has a stone slate roof.

The plan comprises a nave with north porch, south transept, and chancel. The north doorway is a 12th-century round-arched opening with two orders of roll moulding and a billeted hoodmould. The tympanum features an incised diaper pattern, and the jamb shafts have volute capitals and moulded bases; the doorway retains its plank and cover strip door. The north porch has a double-chamfered pointed arch to parapet with a gable, and a trefoil-headed image niche above the arch.

Two windows light the nave on the north and south sides. One on each side is original 12th-century work with deep internal splays; the others are 2-light 19th-century neo-Norman replacements, with that on the south wall replacing a much larger window of earlier date. An Early English pointed south doorway with plank door provides additional access.

The west end of the nave was rebuilt in several phases. It is dominated by a large Perpendicular 3-light window with Rectilinear tracery, with a line of low-pitched gable end above and part of a moulded verge still in situ. Two small lights above the window were formerly part of a bellcote, but this was entirely engulfed in late 19th-century rebuilding that provided a new, higher bellcote.

The early 14th-century transept features an ogee-tracery single light to the south and a 2-light window in a square-headed opening with ogee tracery on the east side. The 13th-century chancel has a continuous sill-level string course. Its east end displays two lancets with a small quatrefoil centrally above, while three lancets light the north and south sides; one to the south has a shouldered arched recess below. A shouldered-arched priest's doorway is located on the south side.

Interior

The interior is plain and limewashed. The pure Norman line of the nave is interrupted by a large round transept arch. The 12th-century chancel arch is plain and round with carved imposts; small flanking squints have been reset. A small opening at high level above the chancel arch features a quatrefoil-pierced ceiling and served as an aumbry for use with the rood loft. The chancel is well articulated by 13th-century splays to the lancets, all with rere-arches, and a continuous sill-level string course. Both the transept and chancel are roofed with 19th-century hammerbeam trusses.

The south chancel wall contains two piscinae: an Early English pillar type and a later example with a moulded trefoil head. Three aumbries are located on the north wall. Two chancel effigies represent Sir Thomas Conway and his wife Elizabeth, moved from the transept in the 19th century. A memorial tablet on the south chancel wall features a scrolled pediment and a painted inscription: "THOMAS KEBLA: SEN . GEN: DECESED ANNODMI: 1670". The north wall includes a moulded mortuary recess with a plain chest bearing no inscriptions. To the right of the chancel arch is a memorial with Ionic pilasters and a broken pediment to Edmond, son of Thomas Keble, died 1654.

The chancel retains a late 19th-century stone choir screen and a curved pulpit front.

The 12th-century circular font is of considerable importance and is well preserved, featuring arcading and figures in relief. Dating from approximately 1180, it was discovered by John Keble during his period as curate here from 1823 to 1825. The upper east window contains stained glass by Thomas Willement, dated 1852.

This church is significant for the extent of its surviving Norman work, the quality of its font, and its historical association with John Keble, one of the principal instigators of the Oxford Movement.