St Peter & St Paul's Church, Harrington facts for kids

St Peter & St Paul's Church, Harrington
52°25′03″N 0°51′25″W / 52.4176°N 0.8569°W / 52.4176; -0.8569
Denomination	Church of England
Website	http://www.faxtongroup.org.uk/stpeterandstpaulharrington.htm
Administration
Deanery	Brixworth
Archdeaconry	Northampton
Diocese	Diocese of Peterborough
Province	Canterbury

St Peter & St Paul's Church is a historic Anglican Church located in the village of Harrington. It serves as the main church for the local community. This beautiful building has stood for many centuries and holds interesting stories and unique features.

A Look Back in Time

St Peter & St Paul's Church is a very important old building. It is listed as a Grade II* building, which means it is considered to be of special interest and importance. You can find it on the east side of Church Lane, just north-east of Harrington village.

When the Domesday Book was created in 1086, it was a big survey of England. This book did not mention a church or priest in Harrington. This might mean there wasn't a church building there yet, or perhaps no priest lived there at that time.

The main parts of the church you see today were built a long time ago, in the 14th and 15th centuries. That's over 600 years ago! The church tower was added much later, in 1809.

Special Features of the Church

This church has a very unusual item called a tuba stentoro-phonica, which is a type of speaking trumpet. It's one of only eight like it in the whole country! Sir Samuel Morland said he invented these horns to help people speak loudly between ships. This special device is also known as "The Harrington Vamping Horn." It was even shown to King Charles II in St James' Park a long time ago.

In 1817, the Earl of Dysart gave the church a set of six bells. These bells were made at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which has been making bells for hundreds of years. Imagine the sound of those bells ringing out across the village!

The Church Today

St Peter & St Paul's Church is part of a group of churches called a united Benefice. This group includes churches from nearby villages like Arthingworth, East Farndon, and Oxendon. Each of these villages still has its own church building.

A famous ecologist named Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock worked as a curate (a type of priest) here from 1886 to 1890.