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 church in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England. It is a parish church, which means it serves the local community. The current leader, called the rector, is Revd Will Pearson-Gee. He leads different types of services, both traditional and modern, mostly on Sundays. The church stands in a very noticeable spot in the middle of Buckingham, on Castle Hill.
Contents
Church Services
The church has 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 (church songs) and readings from the Bible.
- It is led by one of the church's three organists and the church choir every week.
- On the first Sunday of each month, this service might be a bit different.
- 11 AM: Family Service
- This service is designed for families and includes worship with modern Contemporary Christian music.
- A contemporary 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 that includes Holy Communion.
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.
The Old Church
The first church existed before 1445. We know this because it was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. The tower and spire of this old church kept falling down. In 1776, it collapsed for the last time. It was decided that a new church was needed.
Building the New Church
A new location became available on Castle Hill. This is where the church stands today. The first stone for the new church was placed on November 25, 1777. This was a big event with a special song and a feast.
The new church was finished and officially opened on December 6, 1780. A letter was sent to the Bishop of Lincoln explaining why the new church was built. It said that the old church's tower had fallen, and the people of Buckingham could not afford to rebuild it. So, a kind person named Earl Temple offered to build a new one. The land for the church was given by Earl Verney.
Church Design and Style
The church was first built in a simple Georgian style. It had a tower with a spire and a main hall called a nave.
Victorian Changes
The church you see now looks more like a Victorian Gothic Revival building. This is because of many changes made in the 1800s by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott.
- In 1860, he made important repairs and added strong supports called buttresses. He also changed the inside of the church.
- In 1865, a new part called a chancel was added. This part was paid for by a donation from the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.
- In 1867, a porch was added.
These additions were officially opened in 1867. After all these changes, very little of the original 18th-century church remained untouched.
The Church Organ
The organ at Buckingham Parish Church is a very special musical instrument. It was built by a company called Norman & Beard.
Organ History
The organ was first put in St John's Church in Aylesbury in 1913. A famous organist, Dr. Ley, played the first concert on it. In 1969, the organ was moved to Buckingham. It was also updated and some of its sounds were changed.
Organ Restoration
Between 2015 and 2016, the organ was fully restored and rebuilt. This happened after it had been used for over 100 years. The company Peter Collins Ltd did the work. They also added new sounds that fit the original style of Norman & Beard organs.
When the organ was moved from Aylesbury, a large pipe called the Open Diapason was removed. A lighter sounding pipe was put in its place. During the recent restoration, the large Open Diapason was put back. Other pipes were also added to make the sound richer.
The organ was also lifted onto a new platform. This helps the sound travel better throughout the church. The new platform also moved the front of the organ forward. This improved the sound even more. The organ's pitch was also changed to concert pitch (A440 Hz). This makes it easier for choirs and other music groups to use it.
A new movable control panel, called a console, was added. It has controls for a future Choir organ section. This section could be added if enough money is raised.
The restoration of the organ was made possible by many people and groups who donated money. Since it was restored, the organ has been used in many events. These include the Buckingham Summer Festival and concerts by the Buckingham Choral Society. It is also used every week for the Sunday Traditional Service.
