St Peter's Church, Leckhampton facts for kids
St Peter's Church, Leckhampton is a special church in Leckhampton, a part of Cheltenham, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is a "parish church," which means it serves the local community.
It is part of the Diocese of Gloucester, which is like a large church district. St Peter's also works with other churches in South Cheltenham. These include St Philip and St James Church, Leckhampton, St Christopher, Warden Hill, and St Stephen's and Emmanuel.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
Building the Church
The church you see today was likely built in the 1300s. This was in the 14th century. Sir John Giffard, who was the "Lord of the Manor" of Leckhampton, probably built it. A Lord of the Manor was a very important landowner in medieval times.
The church has a main area called the nave. It also has a sanctuary, which is a holy place. There is a south aisle, which is a side section. The tall, pointy roof part is called the spire.
Inside the church, you can see statues of Sir John Giffard and his wife. These statues are called "effigies." They help us remember them.
Earlier Times
Before the current church, there was an even older one on the same spot. We know this because of a record from 1162. In that year, a priest from this church had to pay a fine. He was fined by Archbishop Thomas Becket. The fine was for not paying money owed to the Canons of Cirencester Abbey. Canons were a group of priests living together.
Growing and Changing
In the 1860s, the church became bigger. An architect named John Middleton helped with this. A new side section, called a north aisle, was added. The main part of the church, the nave, was also made longer.
As more people moved to the area, the local population grew. Because of this, a new church parish was created. It was called St Philip and St James. This new parish took over some of the older church's area.
Church Features and Memorials
St Peter's Church has eight bells that can be rung together. It also has a large organ. This organ was built in 1936 by Hill, Norman and Beard. It was updated in the year 2000.
The churchyard is the area around the church. It has a special memorial for Dr Edward Wilson. He was an explorer who went on Captain Scott's last trip to Antarctica. Sadly, he died during that expedition.
The churchyard is also the resting place for eleven service members. Eight of them died in World War I. Three others died in World War II. Their graves are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Major Henry Duberly and his wife, Fanny Duberly, are also buried here. Fanny Duberly was famous for traveling with her husband. She went with him during the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.
See also
- Leckhampton Court
