St Peter's Church, Belper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter’s Church, Belper |
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St Peter’s Church, Belper
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| 53°01′30.7″N 1°28′44.2″W / 53.025194°N 1.478944°W | |
| OS grid reference | SK 35081 47674 |
| Location | Belper, Derbyshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Peter |
| Consecrated | 6 September 1824 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | Matthew Habershon |
| Completed | 1824 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Belper |
| Deanery | Dove and Derwent |
| Archdeaconry | Derbyshire Peak and Dales |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Peter's Church in Belper is a special old church in Derbyshire, England. It's part of the Church of England and is considered a 'Grade II listed' building. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
Building the Church
St Peter's Church was designed by an architect named Matthew Habershon. His plans for the church were even shown at a famous art show called the Royal Academy of Arts in 1824. The church was officially opened and blessed on September 6, 1824. This ceremony was led by the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, Rt. Revd. Henry Ryder.
Church Community
Parish Status
St Peter's Church is part of a shared church community, also known as a 'joint parish'. This means it works closely with two other churches in the area:
- St Swithun's Church, Belper
- St Mark's Church, Openwoodgate, Belper
Memorials Inside the Church
Churches often have memorials to remember important people. St Peter's Church has a memorial for George Brettle. It was created in 1835 by a famous sculptor named Sir Richard Westmacott.
The Church Organ
History of the Organ
The first organ in St Peter's Church was quite old. It was moved from the old chapel of St John around 1754. Later, in 1853, the church got a brand new organ from William Holt of Bradford. This new organ cost 300 guineas, which was a lot of money back then! It was first played on December 22, 1853.
In 1873, the organ was made even bigger by Radcliffe & Sagar. It became a '3-manual & pedals' instrument, meaning it had three keyboards for the hands and one for the feet. In 1902, J.H. Adkins of Derby worked on the organ, changing some of its sounds. More work was done on it in 1978 and 1979 by Edmund Stow. You can find out more about the current organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists of St Peter's
Many talented musicians have played the organ at St Peter's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- Isaac Hanson (around 1860)
- W. A. Shaw (until 1871)
- Thomas Barker Mellor (1871 - 1877)
- Walter Wardle Windle F.C.O. (1882 - 1930)
- Reginald G. Harvey (from 1930)
Church Bells
The church tower holds eight large bells. All of these bells were made in 1925 by John Taylor of Loughborough, a famous bell-making company. Church bells are often rung to call people to worship or to celebrate special events.
Church Clock
A new clock was put into the church tower in 1864. It was made by a company called John Moore & Sons. This clock helps the community keep track of time.
More to Explore
- Listed buildings in Belper
