St Peter's Church, Cound facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Cound
St Peter's Church, Cound, from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SJ 558,050
Location	Cound, Shropshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Wenlock Benefice
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	13 June 1968
Architect(s)	S. Pountney Smith Paley and Austin
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic, Gothic Revival
Completed	1891
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, tiled roofs
Administration
Parish	Cound
Deanery	Condover
Archdeaconry	Ludlow
Diocese	Hereford
Province	Canterbury

St Peter's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Cound, Shropshire, England. It stands within the grounds of Cound Hall. This church is an active part of the Anglican Church of England, serving the local community. It is considered a very important historical building and is officially listed as a Grade I building. This means it has special architectural or historical interest.

History of St Peter's Church

The church is named after Saint Peter. This is because it was connected to Shrewsbury Abbey, which was also dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, a long time ago in the Middle Ages.

The oldest part of the church is the nave, which is the main central part. It was built in the 13th century. The south aisle (a side part of the church) was built at the same time. However, it was rebuilt during the 14th century. The tall west tower was added in the 15th century.

Later, in 1841 or 1842, the north aisle was built. At the same time, the nave and south aisle were repaired and updated. In 1862, the chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, was built. This was paid for by Revd Henry Thursby-Pelham, who lived at Cound Hall. Both the north aisle and the chancel were designed by an architect from Shrewsbury named Samuel Pountney Smith.

Even more changes happened between 1889 and 1891. The north vestry, a room used by the clergy, was added. For this, they reused an old priest's door from the 13th century. The architects for this work were Paley and Austin from Lancaster.

Architecture of the Church

Exterior Features

The church is built using red and yellow sandstone. In the older parts, these stones are mixed randomly. However, in the parts added in the 19th century, the stones are arranged in a pattern. The roof is covered with tiles.

The church's layout includes a four-section bay nave. There is also a three-bay south aisle with a porch, and a four-bay north aisle. The chancel has four bays and is built higher than the rest of the church. There is also a west tower.

The tower has two main levels. It stands on a strong base called a plinth. It has diagonal buttresses, which are supports on the outside walls. There is a three-light window on the west side. A small stair turret is on the northeast side. You can see a clock face on the west side. The tower also has gargoyles, which are carved stone figures that act as water spouts. There are three-light openings for the bells. The top of the tower has a battlemented parapet (a low protective wall) with eight pinnacles (small pointed towers). On top of the tower is a pyramid-shaped cap with a weathervane.

The south aisle has a doorway and windows with two lights. Its east window has three lights. The windows along the north aisle also have two lights. At its west end, there is a rectangular window. Above it, in the gable (the triangular part of a wall), is a small quatrefoil window, which looks like a four-leaf clover. The windows on the side of the chancel have two lights. Its east window is very large, with five lights. There is also a doorway on the south side of the chancel. The north vestry has two-light windows and a rose window, which is a large circular window.

Interior Features

Inside the church, the arcades (rows of arches) are supported by round piers (columns). In the south aisle, you can find a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) and an aumbry (a small cupboard for storing sacred items).

The font, used for baptisms, is very old, dating from the 12th century. It is shaped like a tub and has carvings of rosettes and leaves. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is from 1633. It is carved with small columns and panels. The screen in the tower used to be in the chancel. It is painted with the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments.

In the chancel, there are some medieval tiles that were reused. Above the chancel arch (the arch separating the nave from the chancel) is part of a 15th-century wall painting. It shows the Last Judgement. The stained glass windows are beautiful. There is a small 14th-century figure in the east window of the south aisle. The east window of the chancel has glass from 1891 by Charles Eamer Kempe. In the south aisle, there is a window from 1909 by Herbert Bryans.

On the church walls, you can see monuments. The oldest one is from 1736. On the north wall of the chancel is a monument to Edward Cressett, who was a Bishop of Llandaff and passed away in 1755. The church has a two-manual pipe organ. It was built in the 1890s by Henry Fincham and was repaired in 1968 by Peter Hutchins. There is also a ring of six bells. All of them were cast in 1726 by Abraham Rudhall II.

External Features of the Churchyard

In the churchyard, there are five structures that are also listed as Grade II buildings. This means they are important and protected.

To the south of the church, there is a sandstone chest tomb from 1815. It is a memorial to Thomas Phipps. East of this, there is another sandstone chest tomb from 1831, remembering John Dodson. Nearby is the sandstone chest tomb of Sir John Colt, dated 1810.

To the northeast of the church, you can find an 18th-century dovecote. This is a two-story building with eight sides. It is made of red brick with sandstone decorations and has a tiled pyramid-shaped roof. Inside, its walls have many nesting boxes for doves.

To the southeast of the church, there is a sandstone cross base. It dates from the 18th century or even earlier. It has four circular steps with a square hole where a cross would have stood.

The churchyard also contains three war graves for British soldiers who died in World War I. Also buried here is Admiral Sir Cecil Thursby (1861-1936), who served with distinction in the same war.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de San Pedro (Cound) para niños

• Grade I listed churches in Shropshire
• Listed buildings in Cound