Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wantage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wantage |
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| 51°35′19″N 1°25′43″W / 51.5887°N 1.4285°W | |
| Location | Church Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 8AQ |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 22 April 1950 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wantage |
| Deanery | Wantage |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Dorchester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
The Church of St Peter and St Paul is a special church in Wantage, Oxfordshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is very old and important, which is why it's known as a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its history and beautiful design.
History of the Church
Some parts of the Church of St Peter and St Paul were built a very long time ago, in the late 1200s. Over time, the church grew bigger. In the 1400s, new sections were added. These included the chancel, which is the area near the altar, and aisles, which are the side passages.
Since 1421, a group from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle has helped support the church. They are called the Dean and Canons.
In 1857, the church got a big makeover. This was during a time called the Victorian restoration, when many old churches were repaired and updated. A famous architect named George Edmund Street led this work. Later, in 1877, another architect, William Butterfield, added more space to the west side of the church. In 1895, the south chapel was fixed up. This was done to remember William John Butler, who was the vicar (a type of priest) for 34 years.
Because of its historical importance, the church was officially named a Grade I listed building on April 22, 1950.
The Church Today
Today, the Church of St Peter and St Paul is an active parish church in the Diocese of Oxford. It follows a certain style of worship within the Church of England, often called the Catholic tradition. This means it has some similarities to Catholic churches in its services and traditions.
Important People from the Church
Many interesting people have worked at this church over the years:
- William John Butler: He was the vicar from 1847 to 1881. Later, he became the Dean of Lincoln, which is a very important church role.
- Edward Foyle Nelson: He was a Curate (a junior priest) here from 1857 until he sadly passed away in 1859 from Typhoid Fever. A beautiful stained glass window was put in the church in 1861 to remember him.
- Roscow Shedden: He was the vicar from 1931 to 1952. Before that, he was a Bishop in The Bahamas.
- Robert Wright: He was a priest here from 1978 to 1992. Later, he became the Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, which means he led prayers for the British Parliament.
Gallery
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The Church of St Peter and St Paul
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The Chancel area inside the church
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A view of the East window from the street
