St Peter's Church, Portland facts for kids
St. Peter's Church is a historic former church building located in The Grove, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. It was designed by Major-General Sir Edmund Du Cane and built between 1870 and 1872. Today, it is recognized as a Grade II* Listed building, meaning it's very important historically and architecturally. The gate piers, boundary walls, and the church's vicarage (the house for the church leader) are also protected. St. Peter's Church is currently on the "Heritage at Risk" register, which means it needs special attention to preserve it.
Contents
History of St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church was constructed from 1870 to 1872. The building cost about £8,000, which was a large sum of money at that time. People from the nearby HM Prison Portland helped with the construction. The church was officially opened for services in August 1872.
Who Used the Church?
For many years, the church served the local community in The Grove. It was also used by the military soldiers stationed at the Verne Citadel. In 1973, St. Peter's Church was no longer needed as a regular parish church. However, it continued to be used as a chapel for the prison, which was then a special institution for young offenders. This continued until 1988. After that, the church became privately owned.
Design and Features of the Church
St. Peter's Church is built using local Portland stone, which is a famous type of limestone. It has roofs made of slate. The church features beautiful and detailed architecture. Many of its original parts are still in place today.
Church Surroundings and Windows
The church is set within walled gardens that have old, tall trees. Inside, the stained glass windows were added during the 20th century. During World War II, one of the church's windows was damaged by a bomb. It was later replaced with a new window. This new window honors Bandmaster J. Tyson and the brave men of the Dorset Regiment who lost their lives in the war.
The Unique Mosaic
Inside the church, there is a special mosaic artwork. This mosaic borders the porch and the chancel (the area near the altar). What makes this mosaic unique is that it was created by female prisoners. One of these prisoners was Constance Kent, who was serving a sentence at HM Prison Parkhurst. Experts Newman and Pevsner wrote in their 1972 book The Buildings of England that St. Peter's Church is "as surprising and as bold in scale" as another famous local church, St. George's Church in Reforne.
