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 place with a rich history and beautiful artwork.
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Discovering St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church was designed by a famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson. He planned the church in 1860, and it was built between 1863 and 1864. Along with the church, schools, an orphanage, and a vicarage (the priest's house) were also built.
This church is very important because it's one of the few buildings in the area to be a Grade II* listed building. This means it's recognized for its special historical and architectural importance. It was also Pearson's first big church project in a town.
A Hidden Gem
From the outside, St Peter's might look simple, but the inside is surprisingly beautiful and detailed. The original idea was for the church's spiritual feeling to become clear once you stepped inside. Also, a tall, impressive tower was planned but never built, which would have changed its outer look.
Even though the church only cost about £8,000 to build back then, it's decorated with many rich and detailed artworks inside. It has a complete set of original church fittings, which is quite rare.
Music and Sound
The church also has a wonderful small organ made by Lewis, which sounds very powerful for its size. Because the church has excellent acoustics (how sound travels in a space), concerts are sometimes held there. The St Peter's Singers, a choir, perform evensong (an evening church service) on the last Sunday of most months.
Inside the Church
The main altar in St Peter's is believed to stand on the spot where the Neptune fountain once was in the famous Vauxhall Gardens. These gardens were a popular entertainment spot in the past.
The Altar and Art
The beautiful altar screen, called a reredos, is made of alabaster (a soft, white stone). It was designed by Pearson himself and created by Poole of Westminster. The colorful mosaic on the reredos was made by Salviati of Venice, a well-known glass company.
The walls around the altar, called the sanctuary, are covered with amazing paintings called frescos. These were painted by Clayton and Bell between 1866 and 1868. They show important scenes from the Bible, 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, pointed arches (called lancets) 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 pictures carved into it, showing the Baptism of Christ. These carvings were done by an artist named Nicholl in 1874. The wooden cover for the font has a patterned design that Pearson designed in 1891.
Parish Life
St Peter's Church works together with St Anselm's Church, Kennington to form the North Lambeth parish. This means they share responsibilities and serve the local community together.
