St Peter's Church, Vauxhall facts for kids
St Peter's, Vauxhall is a historic Church of England church located on Kennington Lane in Vauxhall, London. It's a special building that has been a part of the Vauxhall community for over 160 years.
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History of St Peter's
The idea for St Peter's Church began in 1860. A famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson designed it. The church was built between 1863 and 1864. Along with the church, schools, an orphanage, and a vicarage (the home for the church's priest) were also constructed.
A Special Building
St Peter's is considered a very important building. It is one of only a few buildings in the area that is "Grade II* listed". This means it's a building of special national importance and interest. It was Pearson's first big church design in a city.
The church cost about £8,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! Even though it looks simple from the outside, the inside is beautifully decorated. The original plan included a tall tower, but it was never built.
Music and Sound
St Peter's has a wonderful small organ made by a company called Lewis. This organ makes a powerful sound. The church is also known for its excellent acoustics, which means sound travels very well inside. Because of this, concerts are sometimes held there. A group called the St Peter's Singers performs evening songs on the last Sunday of most months.
Inside the Church
The inside of St Peter's Church is full of interesting details and beautiful artwork.
The Altar and Art
The main altar inside the church is believed to be on the same spot where a fountain called the Neptune fountain once stood in the famous Vauxhall Gardens. The beautiful alabaster screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was designed by Pearson himself. It was made by a company called Poole of Westminster. The colorful mosaic on it was created by Salviati of Venice.
Wall Paintings
The paintings on the walls in the sanctuary, which is the area around the altar, are called frescos. They were painted by artists from Clayton and Bell between 1866 and 1868. These paintings show important stories, including:
- The Killing of Abel
- Melchisedech the High Priest
- The Last Supper
- The Agony in the Garden
- Christ Carrying the Cross
- The Crucifixion
- The Descent from the Cross
- The Resurrection
- Christ's appearance to the Apostles after the Resurrection
The colorful stained glass windows in the upper parts of the church were made by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake in 1864-1865.
The Font
The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, was also made by Poole of Westminster. The bowl of the font has detailed carvings of the Baptism of Christ. These carvings were done by an artist named Nicholl in 1874. The cover for the font has a cool geometric design that Pearson created in 1891.
St Peter's Today
Today, St Peter's Church in Vauxhall works together with St Anselm's Church, Kennington. They form a combined parish called North Lambeth.
