St Peter's Church, Walpole St Peter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Walpole |
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St Peter's Church, Walpole, from the northeast
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| Location | Walpole, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Website | http://walpolestpeterchurch.org/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Peter's Church is a very old and important church located in Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, which means it's a church where local people worship. It is one of the biggest churches in Norfolk and is often called "the Cathedral of the Fens" because of its large size and beautiful design. The church is part of the Diocese of Ely, which is a special area managed by a bishop.
The building is mostly built in a style called Perpendicular architecture, which was popular in England a long time ago. St Peter's Church is so special that it has a Grade 1 listed status. This means it's considered a very important historic building in England. Many people think it is one of the finest parish churches in the whole country.
History of St Peter's Church
The oldest part of St Peter's Church is its tower. This part was built way back in the 13th century, which is over 700 years ago!
Building the Church
By the 15th century, a much larger church was added to the tower. This new church was about 160 feet long. The windows in the church show the Perpendicular style of building. This style is known for its tall, narrow windows and detailed stone work.
Inside the church, you can still see some wooden benches that also date from the 15th century. There is a special carved box for donations to the poor, which was made in 1639. A beautiful chandelier, which is a large hanging light, was added in 1701.
Later Changes and TV Fame
Later, during the Victorian era (in the 1800s), some parts of the church were repaired and updated. This work mostly focused on the chancel, which is the area around the altar.
St Peter's Church also became a bit famous! In 1973, it was used as a filming location for a TV show. This show was based on a book called The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers. The church appeared as the parish church of a made-up village called Fenchurch St Paul in the story. The main character, Lord Peter Wimsey, was played by actor Ian Carmichael.
