St Peter's Church, Noss Mayo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1882 |
| Location | |
| Location | Noss Mayo, Devon, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | James Piers St Aubyn |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Peter's Church is a beautiful Church of England church located in Noss Mayo, a village in Devon, England. It was built between 1880 and 1882. A famous architect from London, James Piers St Aubyn, designed this church. St Peter's Church is considered a very important building. It has been a Grade II* listed building since 1960. This means it is a special historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
Why a New Church Was Needed
The old church for the area was called the Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman, Revelstoke. It was getting very old and falling apart. Also, it was quite far away for many people living in Noss Mayo. There was a smaller church building in the village, built in 1839. But it was too small for all the people who wanted to attend services.
In 1877, a wealthy man named Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke bought a large estate nearby called Membland. He generously offered to pay for a brand new church to be built. This new church would serve the community much better.
Building St Peter's Church
The first stone of the new church was laid on September 10, 1880. Mrs. Edward Baring placed the stone during a special ceremony. Many people watched, including local church leaders. These included Rev. H. Farwell Roe, Rev. Duke Yonge, and Archdeacon Alfred Earle.
Instead of hiring a big construction company, local skilled workers built the church. They worked under the guidance of Mr. G. W. Crosbie, who was in charge of building projects for the estate. By October 1881, the roof was being put on. The church was almost finished when it was officially opened. This special event, called a consecration, happened on September 6, 1882. The Bishop of Exeter, Frederick Temple, led the ceremony.
Church Design and Features
St Peter's Church was designed in a style called the Perpendicular style. This is a type of Gothic architecture that was popular in England. The church was made to hold about 250 people. It cost around £14,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
The church is built from local stone. Special Dartmoor granite was used for details. The roofs are made of slate, and the wooden parts inside are from English oak. The church has a main area called the nave. It also has north and south aisles, which are side sections. There is a chancel, which is the area near the altar. At the west end, there is a tall tower. There is also a porch and a vestry, which is a room for the clergy.
Because the ground was steep, the vestry was built underneath the north aisle. You can reach it by stairs. The church's tower is about 70 feet (21 meters) tall. It has eight bells and a special chiming system. Below the bell windows, there are four clock faces. These were made by Mr. Jump from London.
Inside the Church
Many of the beautiful wooden carvings inside the church were made by Mr. Harry Hems from Exeter. The large organ, which makes music, was supplied by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd from London.
Decorating the inside of the church continued for several years after it was built. Much of the painting and stained glass windows were created by Mr. J. T. Fouracre from Stonehouse. He also oversaw the work. In 1886, a local newspaper said the ongoing work was "making the interior as elegant as the graceful lines of the edifice itself." This means the inside was becoming as beautiful as the church's shape. In 1893, a special stained glass window was added to remember Lady Revelstoke after she passed away. This window was also made by Fouracre and Son.
