St Peter and St Paul's Church, Kettering facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Kettering
St Peter and St Paul’s Church in 2022
St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Kettering Location in Northamptonshire
52°23′48.64″N 0°43′35.88″W / 52.3968444°N 0.7266333°W / 52.3968444; -0.7266333
Location	Kettering, Northamptonshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	Peter and Paul
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Specifications
Spire height	179 feet (55 metres)
Administration
Parish	Kettering
Deanery	Kettering
Archdeaconry	Oakham
Diocese	Peterborough

St Peter and St Paul's Church is a historic Church of England church. You can find it in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is a very important building, listed as Grade I listed. This means it is one of the most special historic buildings in the country.

History of the Church

We don't know much about when the church first started. The first known priest, or rector, began working here around 1219 or 1220.

Building Styles and Features

The oldest part of the church is the chancel. This part was built around the year 1300. It shows a style called Early Decorated. Most of the church building was rebuilt in the mid-1400s. This part is in the Perpendicular style. This style is known for its tall, thin windows and strong vertical lines.

The church has a very tall spire. It reaches 179 feet (55 metres) into the sky. This makes it a very noticeable landmark. We are not sure if this church replaced an even older one on the same spot.

Ancient Art Inside

Inside the church, you can still see two old wall paintings from the Middle Ages. One painting shows two angels with feathered wings. The other is a faded picture of a saint. These paintings give us a peek into the past.

Church Community

St Peter and St Paul's Church is part of a joint parish. This means it works together with another church, St Michael and All Angels’ Church, also in Kettering.

Church Organ

The church has a large organ. It was rebuilt in 2004 by Kenneth Canter. The organ's outer case was made in 1892 or 1893 by a famous architect named Arthur Blomfield. You can find details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Church Bells

The church has a set of 12 bells. These bells were made in 2004 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. This foundry is very old and famous for making bells.

Special Carvings

Above the North Door of the church, there are statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These statues were carved by a local author and publisher named J. L. Carr. He made them to replace older carvings that were destroyed a long time ago during the Reformation. The new carvings were officially dedicated in a special service on October 7, 1984.

Interesting Stories

During World War II, fighter pilots used the church's tall spire to help them find their way. The spire was much taller than anything else nearby. It was a perfect landmark for pilots to navigate to the local airbase at Grafton Underwood.

The church as it looked in 1843