St Peter's Church, Wentlooge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Wentlooge
Parish Church of St Peter
Location	Peterstone
Country	Wales
History
Status	Deconsecrated
Dedication	St Peter
Architecture
Functional status	Private house
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	3 January 1963
Specifications
Number of spires	1

St Peter's Church is an old church building in the village of Peterstone. This village is located southwest of Newport in south Wales. The church was built in the 1400s. It has a special design called the Perpendicular style.

Over the years, the church needed repairs. It was fixed up twice. The first time was after a very big flood in 1607. The second time was much later, in the late 1800s. An expert on old buildings, John Newman, said it was "the noblest and most beautiful" church of its kind in the area. Because it is so important, the building was given a special protection status. It became a Grade I listed building on January 3, 1963. This means it is a very important historical building.

History of St Peter's Church

When Was the Church Built?

The church was built in the middle of the 1400s. It was supported by St Augustine's Abbey, a powerful religious group at the time. This support helped the church get its grand design. The building is made from grey limestone, a common stone, with special oolitic limestone details.

What Does the Church Look Like?

The church is quite large. It has a main hall called a nave, with side sections called aisles. There is also a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar used to be. At the west end, there is a tall tower with three levels. The church also has a small room called a vestry and a porch at the entrance.

The tower is very detailed. It has pointed decorations called crocketted finials at the top. You can also see carved figures of saints on each of its four sides. The main hall (nave) has a special ceiling called a hammerbeam roof. This roof is from the 1400s, but it has been repaired. The chancel and its roof were rebuilt in the 1800s.

Who Helped Restore the Church?

The repairs in the 1800s were paid for by Sir George Walker. He did this to remember his wife, Fanny. She was the daughter of Lord Tredegar, a very important person in the area. John Newman, the architectural historian, said the inside of the church feels "beautifully calm and spacious."

Images for kids

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  St Peter's Church, Wentlooge.