St Peter's Church, Eype facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church |
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St Peter's Church
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1865 |
| Location | |
| Location | Eype, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Talbot Bury |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Peter's Church is a special building in Eype, Dorset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was built between 1864 and 1865. Today, it's not just a church; it's also a cool place for art events called the Eype Centre for the Arts.
Contents
The Story of St Peter's Church
Building a New Church
St Peter's Church was built to help people who lived far from the main church in Symondsbury. It was like a smaller, more convenient church for them. A kind church leader, Rev. Gregory Raymond, left £3,000 in his will to help pay for it. He passed away in 1863.
His replacement, Rev. Henry Rawlinson, continued the plan to build the church in Eype. A piece of land on a hill above Eype was given by Mr. Syndercombe Bower. This meant the new church could also serve people from Watton and part of Bridport Harbour.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The first stone of the church was put in place on May 28, 1864. This important event was led by the Bishop of Salisbury, Walter Kerr Hamilton. The church was designed by an architect named Talbot Bury from London. He also watched over the building work.
Mr. George Swaffield from Shipton Gorge was the main builder. All the wood parts were made by Mr. George G. Hayward of Burton Bradstock. Mr. W. K. Brown from Bridport handled the plumbing, painting, and decorating. The church was finished and officially opened by the Bishop of Salisbury on August 24, 1865.
St Peter's as an Arts Center
A New Purpose for the Church
Over time, fewer people were attending church services. To keep the building active, work was done in 2002 and 2003. The goal was to give the church another purpose as a place for arts. It opened in 2003 as the Eype Centre for the Arts.
Rev. Dr. Ray Shorthouse had the idea for this project. He believed that giving the church a dual role would help it last for many years. The changes cost £250,000, which came from a local group called the Walbridge Trust. Now, the church often hosts concerts, art shows, and other events.
Music in the Church
In 2010, the famous musician PJ Harvey used the church. She recorded her eighth album, Let England Shake, there. She told the Bridport News newspaper that she remembered the person who runs the arts center had offered the church for shows or practice. So, she asked if her band could use it.
How the Church Was Built
Materials and Design
St Peter's Church was built using local stone from Symondsbury and Bothenhampton. The parts around the windows, doors, and arches were made from Bath stone. The church was designed in a style called Decorated Gothic. It was made to hold 300 people.
The church has a cruciform plan, which means it's shaped like a cross from above. It includes a main hall (nave), a special area for the altar (chancel), a room for church items (sacristy), and two side sections (north and south transepts). There is also a porch at the south entrance.
A tall tower was planned for the church. However, there wasn't enough money. So, instead of a large tower, a smaller bell turret was built on the western end of the roof.
