St Peter's Church, Adderley
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Church, Adderley, is an Anglican
church in the village of Adderley
, Shropshire
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building, The church has a dual function. Its nave
and tower form an active parish church
in the united benefice
of Adderley, Ash, Calverhall, Ightfield and Moreton Say, in the deanery of Hodnet, the archdeaconry of Salop, and the diocese of Lichfield
. The chancel
and transept
s are under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
.
. The other remaining part of the older church is the tower, built in 1712. The rest of the church was built in 1801 by Richard Baker; it is the only known work by this architect. The chancel was restored in 1822. The interior of the church was divided in about 1970 for the nave to continue in use as a parish church, and the rest of the church to be preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust.
, with some red sandstone in the tower. The roofs are in slate
. Its plan is cruciform, with a three-bay
nave, a single-bay chancel and transepts, and a west tower. There is an apsidal
end to the chancel and the south transept. The tower is in two stages on a plinth
. At the corners are Doric
pilaster
s. In the lower stage is a round-headed west doorway. The upper stage contains two-light louvred
bell openings. At the top is a moulded
cornice
, and a plain parapet
. The north transept (Kilmorey chapel) has a battlement
ed parapet with crocket
ed pinnacle
s at the corners and on the apex of the gable
. It contains a three-light north window, a two-light east window, and a west doorway with four steps leading up to it. The remainder of the church has a plain parapet. Each of the gable ends has a triangular pediment
, and on the north and south gables are small gabled finial
s. The windows have pointed arches and Gothic
-style tracery
. The windows have cast iron
frames and tracery in Perpendicular style. These were made in nearby Coalbrookdale
. On the south side of the nave is a pair of doors.
columns. The chancel screen dates from 1908, includes Corinthian
columns, and was probably made by C. Hodgson Fowler
. The font
is large, square, and Norman
in style. Its carving includes rosettes and volute
s, and it contains a medieval
inscription in Latin
, which translates as "Here wickedly the first man enjoyed the apple with his wife". The wooden pulpit
is hexagonal and dates from about 1801. On each side of the tower arch are Commandment
boards, and in the vestry
, under the tower, is a benefactors board. Above the south doorway are tablets inscribed with the Lord's Prayer
and the Creed. There is a fireplace in the west wall of the north transept. The stained glass consists of twelve heraldic
panels containing the Needham family arms
. The oldest monument is a brass
dating from about 1390. Another brass commemorates Sir Robert Needham who died in 1556 and his wife, Agnes who died in 1560. There are other memorials to members of the Needham family.
dating from the 18th century consisting of a square base, a square shaft, and a cubic block containing a wrought iron
gnomon
and a globe finial. The other is a mounting block
dating from 1774 consisting of four sandstone steps.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in the village of Adderley
Adderley
Adderley is a village and civil parish in the English county of Shropshire, several kilometres north of Market Drayton. It is known as Eldredelei in the Domesday Book...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building, The church has a dual function. Its nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and tower form an active parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the united benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of Adderley, Ash, Calverhall, Ightfield and Moreton Say, in the deanery of Hodnet, the archdeaconry of Salop, and the diocese of Lichfield
Diocese of Lichfield
The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Chad in the city of Lichfield. The diocese covers 4,516 km² The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England...
. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
and transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
s are under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
.
History
The oldest existing part of the present church is the north transept, which was built in 1635–36 as a burial chapel for the Needham family, the Viscounts Kilmorey of ShavingtonShavington cum Gresty
Shavington cum Gresty is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies to the south of Crewe. It includes the large village of Shavington , which lies 2½ miles south of Crewe, as well as the smaller settlements of Dodds Bank, Park...
. The other remaining part of the older church is the tower, built in 1712. The rest of the church was built in 1801 by Richard Baker; it is the only known work by this architect. The chancel was restored in 1822. The interior of the church was divided in about 1970 for the nave to continue in use as a parish church, and the rest of the church to be preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust.
Exterior
The church is constructed in yellow-grey sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, with some red sandstone in the tower. The roofs are in slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
. Its plan is cruciform, with a three-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave, a single-bay chancel and transepts, and a west tower. There is an apsidal
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
end to the chancel and the south transept. The tower is in two stages on a plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
. At the corners are Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s. In the lower stage is a round-headed west doorway. The upper stage contains two-light louvred
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
bell openings. At the top is a moulded
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
, and a plain parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
. The north transept (Kilmorey chapel) has a battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
ed parapet with crocket
Crocket
A crocket is a hook-shaped decorative element common in Gothic architecture. It is in the form of a stylised carving of curled leaves, buds or flowers which is used at regular intervals to decorate the sloping edges of spires, finials, pinnacles, and wimpergs....
ed pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s at the corners and on the apex of the gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
. It contains a three-light north window, a two-light east window, and a west doorway with four steps leading up to it. The remainder of the church has a plain parapet. Each of the gable ends has a triangular pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
, and on the north and south gables are small gabled finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s. The windows have pointed arches and Gothic
English Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
-style tracery
Tracery
In architecture, Tracery is the stonework elements that support the glass in a Gothic window. The term probably derives from the 'tracing floors' on which the complex patterns of late Gothic windows were laid out.-Plate tracery:...
. The windows have cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
frames and tracery in Perpendicular style. These were made in nearby Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale
Coalbrookdale is a village in the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire, England, containing a settlement of great significance in the history of iron ore smelting. This is where iron ore was first smelted by Abraham Darby using easily mined "coking coal". The coal was drawn from drift mines in the sides...
. On the south side of the nave is a pair of doors.
Interior
The church is divided between the nave and the rest of the church. At the entrance to the north transept is an elaborately carved wooden screen dating from about 1637 with TuscanTuscan order
Among canon of classical orders of classical architecture, the Tuscan order's place is due to the influence of the Italian Sebastiano Serlio, who meticulously described the five orders including a "Tuscan order", "the solidest and least ornate", in his fourth book of Regole generalii di...
columns. The chancel screen dates from 1908, includes Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
columns, and was probably made by C. Hodgson Fowler
C. Hodgson Fowler
Charles Hodgson Fowler was a prolific English ecclesiastical architect who specialised in building and, especially, restoring churches.-Life:He was born in Nottinghamshire...
. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is large, square, and Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
in style. Its carving includes rosettes and volute
Volute
A volute is a spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals...
s, and it contains a medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
inscription in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, which translates as "Here wickedly the first man enjoyed the apple with his wife". The wooden pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is hexagonal and dates from about 1801. On each side of the tower arch are Commandment
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
boards, and in the vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, under the tower, is a benefactors board. Above the south doorway are tablets inscribed with the Lord's Prayer
Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is a central prayer in Christianity. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, it appears in two forms: in the Gospel of Matthew as part of the discourse on ostentation in the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospel of Luke, which records Jesus being approached by "one of his...
and the Creed. There is a fireplace in the west wall of the north transept. The stained glass consists of twelve heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
panels containing the Needham family arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. The oldest monument is a brass
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
dating from about 1390. Another brass commemorates Sir Robert Needham who died in 1556 and his wife, Agnes who died in 1560. There are other memorials to members of the Needham family.
External features
There are two structures in the churchyard that are listed Grade II. One is a red sandstone sundialSundial
A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
dating from the 18th century consisting of a square base, a square shaft, and a cubic block containing a wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
gnomon
Gnomon
The gnomon is the part of a sundial that casts the shadow. Gnomon is an ancient Greek word meaning "indicator", "one who discerns," or "that which reveals."It has come to be used for a variety of purposes in mathematics and other fields....
and a globe finial. The other is a mounting block
Mounting block
A mounting block, horse block, or in Scots a loupin'-on-stane is an assistance for mounting and dismounting a horse or cart, especially for the young, elderly or infirm. They were especially useful for women riding sidesaddle, allowing a horse to be mounted without a loss of modesty...
dating from 1774 consisting of four sandstone steps.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Shropshire
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the English Midlands