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 an Anglican Church in Harrington, England. It is the main church for the local area, known as the parish church. This building is very special and is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected. You can find it on Church Lane, just northeast of Harrington village.

Discovering St Peter & St Paul's Church

A Look Back in Time

The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, does not mention a church or priest in Harrington. This might mean there wasn't a church building there at that time. Or, it could just mean there wasn't a priest living in the village.

The main parts of the church you see today were built a long time ago. Most of it was put together in the 1300s and 1400s. The church's tower, which is a tall part of the building, was added much later in 1809.

What the Church Looks Like

The church has several different sections. It includes a main area called the nave. On either side of the nave are the north and south aisles. There is also a north transept, which is like a side wing. The chancel is the part of the church where the altar is. There's a south porch at the entrance and a tall south tower.

The Amazing Speaking Trumpet

One of the most interesting things inside the church is a special device. It's called a tuba stentoro-phonica, or a speaking trumpet. This is a very rare item, with only eight like it found in the whole country!

A man named Sir Samuel Morland said he invented these horns. He designed them to help people speak loudly between ships. This specific device is also known as "The Harrington Vamping Horn." It was even shown to King Charles II in St James's Park a long time ago.

The Church Bells

In 1817, the Earl of Dysart gave the church a set of six bells. These bells were made at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. This foundry is very famous for making bells, including the original Big Ben bell in London.

Church Records

The church keeps important records of events like births, marriages, and deaths. These records, called parish registers, go all the way back to 1673. The older records are kept safe at the Northamptonshire Record Office.

Working Together

Harrington is part of a group of churches called a "united Benefice." This group also includes churches from Arthingworth, East Farndon, and Oxendon. Even though they work together, each village still has its own church building.