St Peter's Church, Cambridge facts for kids
The Church of St Peter is an old Church of England building in Cambridge, UK. It's located on Castle Street, near Honey Hill and Kettle's Yard. This church is no longer used for regular church services. Instead, it is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to protect important old churches across England.
The Church of St Peter is usually open for visitors. Sometimes, it even holds art shows with the nearby Kettle's Yard gallery.
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History of St Peter's Church
This church has been known by different names over time. People used to call it "St Peter by the Castle" or "Beyond the Bridge." This helped to tell it apart from another church called St Peter-without-Trumpington Gate.
How Old is the Church?
The building we see today is part of a much older church. Its history goes all the way back to the 12th century. That's over 800 years ago! Back then, it had a main hall (nave), a special area for the altar (chancel), a side aisle, and a tall tower with a pointy top (spire).
Some experts, like archaeologist Alison Taylor, think the church might be even older. Because of where it is, near an old Roman road and across from St Giles' Church, it could have started in Anglo-Saxon times. However, there is no clear proof of the church being there before the Norman period.
Changes Over Time
During the time of the Tudor kings and queens, the right to choose the church's priest (called the advowson) went to the Crown. Later, Queen Elizabeth I gave this right to the Bishop of Ely.
In 1650, local officials found that St Peter's didn't have a proper house for its priest. They suggested that its parish (the area it served) should join with St Giles' Church. For hundreds of years, St Peter's has been connected to St Giles' Church.
What the Church Looks Like Now
Today, St Peter's Church is a single-room building. It has a tower on the west side and an eight-sided spire from the 14th century. The spire has small windows called dormers. The church is built from stone rubble, with pebbles used for the tower and cut stone for the spire.
The church was rebuilt to be smaller in 1781. But you can still see some parts from the medieval times. For example, the south doorway is from the 13th century. There's also a very old font from the 12th century, which is decorated with carvings of mermen (half-human, half-fish creatures).
By the early 1900s, the church was almost falling apart again. It was slowly repaired in the 1930s using concrete and stone.
The Weathervane's Secret
Look closely at the weathervane on top of the church. You might see the letters "AP." People say these letters stand for Andrew Perne. He was an important person in the 1500s who was a leader at Cambridge University and a church dean.
There's a funny story about these initials. People used to joke that "AP" meant different things depending on which way the wind blew. It could mean 'A Papist' (Catholic), 'A Protestant', or 'A Puritan'. This was a playful way to suggest that Andrew Perne might change his beliefs to suit the times!
Gallery
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Inside the church, looking from under the tower
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The south door of the church
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The 12th-century font used for baptisms
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A beautiful stained glass window
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A symbol of Saint Peter's keys
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A stone remembering Jim Ede, who created Kettle's Yard and helped save this church
See also
- All Saints' Church, Cambridge, another church cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust
- Ascension Parish Burial Ground, an old burial ground for this area
- St Giles' Church, Cambridge
