St Peter's Church, Offord D'Arcy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Offord D'Arcy |
|
|---|---|
St Peter's Church, Offord D'Arcy
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | TL 216 664 |
| Location | Offord D'Arcy, Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 14 May 1959 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Pebble and freestone Barnack limestone dressings |
St Peter's Church is an old Anglican church in Offord D'Arcy, a village in Cambridgeshire, England. It's a very important building, listed as Grade I, and is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. The church is right next to the East Coast Main Railway Line and looks out over the River Great Ouse.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church was first built a very long time ago, in the 12th century, during the Norman era. At that time, the main part of the church (the nave), the area around the altar (the chancel), and the north side aisle were constructed.
How the Church Grew Over Time
The chancel was rebuilt between 1250 and 1270. Later, around 1320, a south aisle was added to the church. The tall tower and its pointed top (spire) were built in 1380. The spire was fixed up in 1860 and again in 1990.
From Parish Church to Community Hub
St Peter's was the main church for Offord D'Arcy until 1978. After that, another church nearby took over its regular services. The church then needed a lot of repairs, as it was getting cold and leaky.
The Churches Conservation Trust took over the church to protect it. They made sure the building was safe from the weather. Now, St Peter's Church is used for special events like occasional services, open days, craft fairs, and even a film festival.
Architecture of St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church is mostly built from pebbles and freestone. It also uses Barnack limestone for special parts. The church has a main area (nave), aisles on both sides, a chancel, and a tall tower at the west end.
What the Outside Looks Like
The tower has three main sections and a strong base. The top of the tower has a battlement (like a castle wall) with gargoyles at the corners. A tall, pointed broach spire sits on top, with two levels of small windows called lucarnes.
On the west side of the tower, there's a window with three sections from the late 14th century. The top part of the tower has two-light bell openings on each side. The upper part of the nave (the clerestory) has four two-light windows on both sides.
The south aisle has three two-light windows and a doorway from the 13th century. Both the north and south walls of the chancel have a window from the 15th century and a narrow, pointed window (a lancet window) from the 13th century. The large window at the east end of the church is from the late 15th century.
What the Inside Looks Like
Inside, the north arcade (a row of arches) has three sections from the 13th century. These arches are round and sit on square pillars. The south arcade has four sections with pointed arches.
At the east end of the south aisle, there's a special stone basin called a piscina from the 13th century. Another piscina from the same century is in the south wall of the chancel.
You can also see old stone slabs from the 14th century in the north aisle, carved with figures of people. In the south aisle, there's a monument to Richard Nailour, who died in 1616. It shows a kneeling figure made of alabaster, with decorative pillars and a fancy top. Part of a wooden screen from the 14th century is also in the church.
The church has an old organ in the west gallery, built in 1913. However, it no longer works. There are also three bells in the tower, but they cannot be rung anymore. The oldest bell was made in 1618.
See also
