St Peter and St Paul, Buckingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter and St Paul, Buckingham |
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| Buckingham Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul | |
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| 51°59′53″N 0°59′23″W / 51.9981°N 0.9896°W | |
| Location | Buckingham, Buckinghamshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Peter Saint Paul |
| Consecrated | 6 December 1780 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | Sir George Gilbert Scott (extensions and alterations) |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1777 |
| Completed | 1780 (additions 1867) |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 180 ft 0 in (54.86 m) |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St. Peter and St. Paul, often called Buckingham Parish Church, is an Anglican parish church in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England. It is a very important building in the town. The church is located right in the middle of Buckingham's old town, on Castle Hill. The current leader of the church is Revd Will Pearson-Gee. He leads different types of services, both old and new, mostly on Sundays.
Contents
What Happens at the Church?
The church holds four services each week. Three of these are on Sunday, and one is on Wednesday.
Sunday Services
- 9 AM: Traditional Service
- This service features traditional hymns and readings.
- It is led by one of the church's three organists and the church choir.
- This service is held every Sunday, except for the first Sunday of each month.
- 11 AM: Family Service
- This service is designed for families.
- It includes Contemporary Christian music.
- A modern band leads the music each week.
- 6 PM: Contemporary Service
- This service also features Contemporary Christian music.
- It is led by a contemporary band every week.
Wednesday Service
- 10 AM: Midweek Holy Communion
- This is a quieter service.
- It includes Holy Communion.
A Look Back in Time: History of the Church
The church you see today is not the first one in Buckingham. There was an older church in a place called Prebend End. We know it existed before 1445, but there are mentions of a church in the Domesday Book from 1086.
The old church had problems with its tower and spire. They collapsed several times! In 1776, the tower fell down for the last time. Because of this, people decided to build a completely new church.
Building the New Church
A new spot became available on Castle Hill. This was a perfect place for the new church. The first stone for the new building was laid on November 25, 1777. This was a big event! People sang a special hymn, and there was a feast with roasted ox, beer, and bread.
The new church was officially opened on December 6, 1780. This event is called a consecration. It was led by Bishop Thomas Thurlow. A letter was sent to the Bishop explaining why a new church was needed. It said that the old church's tower had fallen, and the people couldn't afford to rebuild it.
The letter also mentioned that a kind person, Richard Earl Temple, offered to build a new church. His heir, George Earl Temple, finished the work. The land for the church was given for free by Ralph Earl Verney.
How the Church Looks: Architecture
When the church was first built, it was quite simple. It was a Georgian style building. It had a tower with an eight-sided spire and a main hall called a nave.
However, the church changed a lot in the 1800s. A famous architect named George Gilbert Scott made many changes. He added strong buttresses (supports) and made repairs starting in 1860. He also added a chancel (the area around the altar) in 1865 and a porch in 1867. The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos helped pay for the new chancel.
These additions were officially opened in 1867. After all these changes, very little of the original 18th-century church was left untouched. The church now looks like a Victorian Gothic Revival building.
The Church Organ
The large musical organ in Buckingham Parish Church has an interesting history. It was built by a company called Norman & Beard. It was first put in St John's Church in Aylesbury in 1913.
In 1969, the organ was moved to Buckingham. It was also updated at that time. From 2015 to 2016, the organ was fully restored and rebuilt. It was even raised onto a special platform. This helps the sound travel better throughout the church. The organ's pitch was also changed to concert pitch (A440 Hz). This makes it easier for choirs and other musicians to use it.
The organ is a great example of Norman & Beard's work. It is used every week for the Sunday Traditional Service. The restoration was made possible by many generous people and groups. Since it was restored, the organ has been used for concerts and other musical events.
