St Peter's Church, Hockwold facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peter's, Hockwold
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OS grid reference	TL 7249188015
Location	Hockwold cum Wilton, Norfolk
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Churches Conservation Trust
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	8 July 1959 (1959-07-08)
Specifications
Materials	Flint with ashlar dressings

St Peter's Church is an old Anglican church in the village of Hockwold cum Wilton, Norfolk, England. An Anglican church is part of the Church of England. This church is no longer used for regular services, which is why it's called a "redundant" church. It's a very important building, listed as Grade I, meaning it has special historical interest. The Churches Conservation Trust now looks after it.

A Look at St Peter's Church

St Peter's Church used to be the main church for the village of Hockwold. Later, Hockwold joined with nearby Wilton to form Hockwold cum Wilton.

How Old is the Church?

The main part of the church, called the nave, and its tower were built in the mid-1300s. A special area for the altar, called the chancel, was added in the 1400s.

In 1857, the church was repaired and updated. This kind of work is often called a "Victorian restoration."

Why is it a Redundant Church?

For a long time, the churches of St Peter in Hockwold and St James in Wilton were separate. But from 1666, they shared the same priest. Services would take turns between the two churches.

Eventually, St Peter's Church was no longer needed for regular services. This is why it became a "redundant" church. In 1959, it was given a Grade I listing by English Heritage. This means it's a building of "exceptional interest," sometimes even seen as important worldwide. The Churches Conservation Trust now takes care of it.

What Does the Church Look Like?

St Peter's Church is built from flint stones with smooth ashlar stone details. The roofs are made of slate.

Outside the Church

The church has a main area (nave) with a side section (south aisle), a chancel, a south porch, and a tower on the southwest side. The tower has two levels and strong supports called buttresses. It also has decorative freestone corners.

The tower has windows for the bells. The window on the west side of the tower also has two parts and a special pattern. Inside the bell-ringing room, the windows are rounded and narrow. In 1805, the tower had three bells.

The church windows include three-part windows high up in the walls (called clerestory windows). The large window at the east end of the church also has three parts and is in the Perpendicular style, with a round, four-leaf shape above it.

Inside the Church

The south arcade of St Peter's church

The main part of the church (nave) is about 14 meters long and 11 meters wide. The roof has strong wooden beams that cross the space.

The south aisle is separated from the nave by a row of four arches. These arches are supported by eight-sided pillars. The aisle has a stone bench for sitting and a special basin called a piscina, which was used for washing holy vessels.

The chancel is about 11 meters long and 7 meters wide. On the south wall, there are three stone arches. These arches show where seats for the bishop, priest, and deacon would have been. There's also another piscina with a special curved shape. Both these features in the chancel were added in the 1800s.

To the left of the east window, there is a monument on the wall for Sir Cyril Wyche, who passed away in 1780. Sir Cyril was one of the first members of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.

Churchyard Features

The churchyard of St Peter's has a special monument that is also listed as Grade II by English Heritage. This monument is a square headstone made of smooth stone. It is located about 3 meters south of the church tower.

More to Explore

• Grade I listed buildings in Norfolk
• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the East of England