St Peter's Church, Swingfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Swingfield |
|
|---|---|
St Peter's Church, Swingfield, from the south
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | TR 233 434 |
| Location | Swingfield, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Status | Former parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 29 December 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint with stone dressings Tiled and slated roofs |
St Peter's Church is an old Anglican church in the village of Swingfield, Kent, England. It is about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Hawkinge. This church is no longer used for regular services, which means it is a "redundant" church.
It is a very important building. The church is listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a historic building that needs to be protected. The Churches Conservation Trust now takes care of St Peter's Church.
Contents
History of St Peter's Church
Most of St Peter's Church was built in the 1200s. However, some parts might be even older, perhaps from the 1000s or 1100s. Changes were made to the church in the 1400s. Later, in 1870, the church was repaired and updated. This is often called a "Victorian restoration."
The church stopped being used for regular services on August 1, 2000. In 2011, it was officially handed over to the Churches Conservation Trust. This trust helps to preserve important old churches.
Connections to Knights Hospitaller
St Peter's Church has links to the Knights Hospitaller. These were a famous group of knights from the Middle Ages. They were like a military and religious order. A building they used, called a "commandery," was located near Swingfield village. This building used to be a chapel.
Role in Early Mapping
St Peter's Church played a small part in a big mapping project. In the late 1700s, it was one of the points used for a special survey. This survey helped to link the Royal Greenwich Observatory in England with the Paris Observatory in France.
This project was called the Anglo-French Survey. General William Roy led the survey. They used special measurements and sightings across the English Channel. Other points included Dover Castle and Fairlight Down.
Architecture of the Church
St Peter's Church is built from a material called flint. The flint stones are "knapped," meaning they have been carefully shaped. It also has "stone dressings," which are cut stones used around openings like windows and doors. The main parts of the church have tiled roofs. The tower roof is made of slate.
Church Layout
The church has a simple layout. It includes a main area called the nave. On the north side of the nave is a smaller area called an aisle. There is also a porch on the south side. The chancel is a bit narrower than the nave. This is the part of the church where the altar is usually found. At the west end of the church, there is a tower.
The West Tower
The tower was built either in the 1200s or in the late 1400s. It has three levels and stands on a stone base called a plinth. The tower has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. It has a flat top edge called a parapet. The roof of the tower is shaped like a pyramid and has a weathervane on top.
On the west side of the tower, there is a low doorway at the bottom. Above it, there is a small rectangular window. Between these two, there is a narrow, tall window called a lancet window. The openings for the bells have two parts. Above them, there is a round window with six lobes, called a "sexfoil."
Special Features
To the southeast of the tower, there is a round staircase tower. This "turret" is taller than the main tower. It has narrow slit windows and a plain parapet at the top. Near the porch, you can see two old sundials called "mass dials." These were used to tell time in the past.
Inside the church, there is a row of arches called an arcade. This arcade has four sections, or "bays." The arches are supported by columns, or "piers," which are alternately round and octagonal. There are two small cupboards in the walls called "aumbries." These were used to store sacred items.
The font is where baptisms take place. It is shaped like an octagon and dates from the 1300s. It was found in a garden and brought back to the church in 1914. The colorful glass in the west window and a south window was added in the 1900s. In the 1600s, the church had three bells. Two were sold in the late 1700s. The one remaining bell was made in 1696.
External Features
In the churchyard, there is a monument from the 1700s. This monument is also listed as a Grade II historic building.
See also
