St Peter's Church, Raunds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter’s Church, Raunds |
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| 52°20′48″N 0°31′59″W / 52.34676°N 0.53294°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://4spires.org/ |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 176 feet (54 metres) |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Higham |
| Archdeaconry | Oakham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Peter's Church is a special old church in Raunds, England. It is part of the Church of England, which is a Christian church. This building is very important because it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a historic building that needs to be protected. You can find it standing tall on Church Street.
Contents
Discovering St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church is a very old building. People think there was a church here even before this one was built. Most of the church you see today was built a long time ago, between the 12th and 14th centuries. That means it is over 600 years old! The walls are made from strong limestone.
How Tall is the Spire?
The church has a very tall spire, which is the pointy top part. Some people used to think it was 202 feet high. But in 2011, an architect named Julian Flannery measured it carefully. He found that the spire is actually 176 feet (about 54 metres) tall. That's still very high!
Inside the Church
Inside St Peter's Church, you can find many interesting old things.
Ancient Features
There is a round stone bowl from the 13th century called a font. This is where babies are baptised. It has a carving of a ram's head on it. You can also see a special brass plate on the floor. It remembers John Tawyer, who died in 1470, and his wife Margaret.
There is also a stone tomb for John Wales. He was the vicar (a church leader) from 1447 to 1496. In a part of the church called the south chapel, there are monuments for Robert Gage (who died in 1606) and William Gage (who died in 1632).
Old Art and Carvings
The church has other old monuments and even medieval wall paintings. These paintings are very old and show art from the Middle Ages. Look closely above the main entrance on the west side. You might spot a rare carving of a 'left-handed fiddler'!
Church Name Change
For a long time, until the 15th century, the church was called St Mary's. It was named after Mary, the mother of Jesus. But now, it is known as St Peter's Church, named after Saint Peter.
Restorations and the Organ
The inside of the church was repaired and updated in 1874 and 1878. This work was done by a famous architect named Sir Gilbert Scott. During this time, a gallery at the back of the church was removed. Changes were also made to the chancel, which is the area around the altar.
The Church Organ
St Peter's Church has a large organ with three keyboards. It was built by a company called Peter Conacher in 1893. John King-Smith, who owned a big shoe factory in Raunds, gave the organ to the church. It was last fixed up in 2006 so it can still make beautiful music.
The 4 Spires Benefice
In 2007, St Peter's Church in Raunds joined with churches in three other nearby villages. These villages are Hargrave, Ringstead, and Stanwick. They formed a group called "The 4 Spires Benefice." Each village still has its own church, but they work together.
