St Peter's Church, Binton facts for kids
St Peter's Church is a special church in the village of Binton, which is in Warwickshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England.
History of the Church
A church has stood on this spot for a very long time, since at least the year 1286! The church building you see today was built much later, in 1875. From here, you can enjoy beautiful views of the River Avon and the Cotswolds hills.
Important families, like the Conway family who owned the land in Binton, helped build the current church. A lot of the money came from the wife of a nobleman called Francis Seymour, 5th Marquess of Hertford. The church leader (called a rector) back then said that most people in the village worked on farms and didn't have much money. So, rich local families helped pay for the church's upkeep.
Old Parts of the Church
Even though the church was rebuilt, some parts of the original old church are still there! You can see a picture of the first church at the back of the current one.
Inside, there is a special stone font from the 1400s. This is where babies are baptised. There's also a very old wooden chest from the Middle Ages. It has three locks and is covered with iron bands. It was probably used to keep important church items safe.
One of the stained-glass windows remembers Sir John Greville, who died in 1444. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) many times. The window shows the family symbol of the Greville family. You can also see a piece of wood with the royal coat of arms. This symbol must be from between 1714 and 1801 because it includes the White Horse of Hanover.
Outside, near the churchyard gate, there are steps built into the wall. These steps were for people arriving on horseback. They could easily get off their horses without using the gate. There's even a ring nearby where horses would be tied!
The Scott Window
A very special part of St Peter's Church is a memorial window made by Kempe in 1915. This window remembers Robert Falcon Scott and his team. They were famous explorers who died trying to return from the South Pole in 1912.
The window shows four scenes from their brave expedition. Robert Scott had married Kathleen Bruce. She was the sister of Reverend Lloyd Harvey Bruce, who was the rector of Binton from 1906 to 1924. Scott often visited the Rectory (which is now called The Grange). Next to the window, there is a memorial cross for Reverend Bruce. It has a bronze sculpture of Christ, which Kathleen designed herself.
Other Features
The church has one bell. It was made by Henry Bagley in 1669.
Just to the right of the church's entrance (the porch), you'll find the tomb of William Jackson and his wife. William Jackson lived in a house called "Springback," which is now known as The Old Wellhouse. He was important because he provided the stone wellhead called “Buckwell” or “Lion’s Mouth.” He did this by piping water from a well in his own garden.
The church is also home to a group of nesting swifts, which are a type of bird.
