Church of St Peter, Fremington facts for kids
The Church of St Peter is a historic church in Fremington, a village near Barnstaple in Devon, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. People have worshipped on this spot for a very long time, with records showing a church here since at least 1268. Most of the building you see today was built in the 1200s and 1400s. The church is part of the Diocese of Exeter and has been recognized as a very important historical building (called a Grade II* listed building) since 1965.
Contents
A Look at St Peter's Church
Early History and Norman Times
We know there was a church here by 1268, when the first priest, Roger, was appointed. But there's also strong evidence that parts of the church were built even earlier, after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The church is made from rough stone with smoother, cut stones used for details.
The porch and the bell tower are the oldest parts. They have remains of Norman arches from the 1100s and 1200s. Near the church door, there's a special stone basin called a holy water font or stoup. This was used before the Reformation (a big change in the church in the 1500s). People would dip their fingers in it and make the sign of the cross before going inside. The square tower might have once had a lead roof shaped like a cone, but it's not there anymore.
Between the 1200s and 1400s, the church was made bigger. It now has two main sections, called aisles, with two roofs side-by-side. These parts are decorated with pillars and arches in a style called Perpendicular, which was popular in the late Middle Ages.
Changes Over the Years
In 1813, some old pillars and a fancy wooden screen (called a rood screen) were taken out. They were replaced with simpler columns. A special area for singers and musicians was also added at the back of the church. The beautiful stone frames around the windows were also removed.
However, in 1866, a famous architect named Sir Gilbert Scott was working on another church nearby. He was hired to help St Peter's in Fremington from 1867 to 1868. Scott reversed many of the earlier changes. The singing area was removed, and eight new columns were put back in. These columns are decorated with carvings of vines, fruit, and even some funny or strange faces! These columns are connected by Gothic-style arches. New arched stone window frames were put in, and some of the old, original window carvings were found and put back. The church was ready for services again in 1867.
Special Features and Art
Sir Gilbert Scott also designed the lychgate at the entrance to the churchyard. This is a covered gateway where coffins would rest before being carried into the church. He included a large stone that was traditionally used for this purpose. The gates themselves were replaced in the early 2000s, following Scott's original design.
The stone pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, was found buried under the church floor during the 1860s restoration. It was damaged but is believed to be from the 1400s. It has beautiful carvings of Jesus and the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). It still has some of its original color, but it was repaired a lot in the 1800s.
The baptismal font, used for baptisms, was made in 1867. It has detailed carvings around its bowl, showing Noah's Ark and the dove finding land. It also has words from Jesus carved on it: "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
The church organ was originally in a private home and was given to the church in 1907. It has a special hand-cranked system for playing music. It was rebuilt in 2002. On the south wall, there's a small piece of an old wall painting from the Middle Ages. It shows two angels and two towers of the Holy City.
The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, is made of alabaster and Caen stone. It has the symbols Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) carved on either side of a marble cross. The altar table itself is from the Elizabethan era (the time of Queen Elizabeth I). Above the main door, there's a large painted panel showing the Royal Coat of Arms of Queen Anne. This was put there between 1707 and 1714, after England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain.
Windows and Bells
The church's stained glass windows are from the 1800s and 1900s. They show different Bible stories, like Jesus blessing children, the Good Shepherd, and the story of the Good Samaritan. The bell tower holds six bells that can be rung together. Two older medieval bells are no longer used and are stored in the bell chamber.
There are also several memorials on the walls. These include a memorial to Susanna Davie from 1694, with carvings of fabric, a shell, a skull, and small cherubs (called amorini). There's also a memorial to Richard Slowly and a slate tablet for George Bragg from 1629. You can also see five diamond-shaped panels with painted family crests, and a large monument from the 1700s dedicated to the Harding family.
