St Peter's Church, Claydon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Claydon |
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St Peter's Church seen from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | NZ274513 |
| Location | Claydon, Suffolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholicism |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust St Peter's Church, Claydon, Suffolk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 9 December 1955 |
| Architect(s) | Richard Phipson (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Anglo-Saxon, Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1852 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint with limestone dressings; tile roofs |
St Peter's Church is a historic church building in Claydon, Suffolk, England. It is no longer used for regular church services, which means it is a redundant Church of England parish church. The church is a very important Grade I listed building, meaning it has special historical or architectural value. Today, it is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, an organization that protects old churches. St Peter's Church offers great views of the nearby Gipping valley.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
The oldest parts of St Peter's Church are in the nave, which is the main body of the church. These sections date back to the 10th or 11th century (the 900s or 1000s). The east window, which lets in light from the east, was added in the 14th century. Later, in the 15th century, the tall tower was built. Around the same time, a porch was added on the north side, and some of the doorways and windows in the nave were updated.
Major Changes in the 1800s
In 1852, the church went through a big update called a restoration. This means it was repaired and improved to look its best. The work was led by the church's leader at the time, Reverend George Drury, along with an architect named Richard Phipson. Before this restoration, the church had a nave, a chancel (the area around the altar), a west tower, and a north porch.
During the restoration, the chancel was almost completely rebuilt. New parts were also added, including transepts (sections that stick out like arms from the main church) and special rooms for the organ. A lot of the detailed wooden work for the transept roofs and other parts was done by Henry Ringham. It's even thought that Reverend Drury himself helped design some of the colorful stained glass in the east window.
Protecting the Church's Future
In 1977, St Peter's Church was officially declared "redundant," meaning it was no longer needed for regular worship. However, it wasn't until 11 years later that it was officially given to the Churches Conservation Trust. This organization now makes sure the church is kept safe and preserved for future generations to visit and enjoy.
Exploring the Church's Design
St Peter's Church is built mostly from flint, which is a hard stone. Some parts of the church have also been covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. The decorative parts, like window frames, are made from limestone. The roofs are covered with tiles. The church has a short nave with a porch on the north side. It also has north and south transepts, a chancel, a vestry (a room for changing robes), and a tower on the west side.
Oldest Parts and New Styles
The nave of the church seems to be from the Anglo-Saxon period. You can tell this by the special "long-and-short quoins" at the corners, which are stones laid in a unique way. The tower is built in the Perpendicular style, which was popular in the later Gothic period. The parts of the church that were restored in the 19th century are in a Decorated style, known for its fancy patterns.
The tower has a battlemented parapet at the top, which is a low wall with gaps, like on a castle. On this wall, there are seven limestone statues. Originally, there were eight, but one is now missing. The tower is supported by strong buttresses, which are decorated with flushwork – patterns made by setting different colored stones flat against the wall. The nave has fancy, moulded doorways on both the north and south sides. The arch above the south doorway is round-headed. The nave roof is divided into three sections, called bays. The roofs in the transepts have carved bosses, which are decorative knobs where ribs in the ceiling meet.
Inside the Church: Features and Art
The octagonal (eight-sided) font, where baptisms take place, is made of limestone and dates back to about 1400. Most of the other things inside the church, like the pulpit (where sermons are given), were added during the 19th-century restoration. The pulpit is very detailed, with intricate carved patterns. The church also has a two-manual organ, which means it has two keyboards. This organ was built in 1863 by a company called Bevington.
See also
