St Peter's Church, Derby
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Church is an Church of England
parish church in the city of Derby
, UK. It is one of Derby's city centre churches which is in full use for worship. The church building dates from the 11th century and recently celebrated its 950th anniversary. The tower has a peal of eight bells, which are rung before the Sunday morning services.
In 1137 the church came under the jurisdiction of the Abbots of nearby Darley Abbey until the mid 17th century and the dissolution of the monasteries. Rebuilding in 1338 instigated by the first curate, John de Crich, saw the south aisle and Chantry added. Although significantly rebuilt around 1350 in the decorated style the church retains Norman features at the eastern end of the church on the east wall of the nave and the arcade responds. Five light windows survive in the south and north aisles from the 14th century. The church is the only medieval church remaining in the city centre.
The original high-pitched roof was lowered in 1509, the walls over the nave arcades raised and clerestory windows inserted. The chancel arch was widened and the east end was shortened by a bay and a new east window installed. The tower was also rebuilt at this time. The bells, a familiar sound to Derbians, were cast and hung around 1636 and are still in regular use, one having never needed recasting.
The late 18th century saw galleries added to the nave but, in 1852 the chancel was restored
and the pews, along with the impropriator's (lay rector's, see Chancel repair liability
) gallery removed. Plaster was also removed and old roof timbers exposed. In the same decade the chancel and aisles were again restored and the large galleries at the west end of the nave removed. 1865 saw the south porch removed, the organ chamber made at the east end of the north aisle. In 1898, the west end of church and tower rebuilt were entirely rebuilt with great sympathy for the existing ancient east end of the church. In 1970, the present church and parish rooms, including meeting rooms, coffee rooms, office, kitchen and toilet facilities were added to the west end below the tower.
visited Derby in 1349. A third of the population died including sixty clergy one of which was St Peters vicar.
In 1530 Robert Liversage established a chapel for divine service. Each Friday thirteen poor men and women were paid a silver penny for attending. People fought to be amongst those thirteen. The Liversage Almshouses are nearby on London Road, the vicar and churchwardens being ex-officio trustees because Robert Liversage’s 1531 will bequeathing most of his property to the benefit of the poor of the parish.
Joan Waste
, a St Peter's ward parishioner and a blind rope maker, was tried for heresy at what is now Derby Cathedral
in 1556. She refused to deny her faith and was burned at the stake at Windmill Pit near Burton Road.
The plague again broke out in Derby in 1586 starting in St Peter's parish.
Around 1650, Oliver Cromwell
stole an Elizabethan chair that had been presented to St Peter’s in 1593. Amazingly, in 1960, the chair was discovered at an auction and one of the churchwardens of the time negotiated its return to the church.
Robert Bakewell
, the British metalsmith, died in 1752 and is buried in the churchyard.
William Cowper
is said to have written, in 1768, the hymn Hark my Soul it is the Lord in the upper vestry at St Peter's.
since its formation earlier.
During 2010 the church raised £6,000 to rehouse and display the Florence Nightingale
stained glass
window in a specially prepared back lit position at the west of the north aisle. The window was originally commissioned in the late 1950s for the chapel at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
(DRI) which has moved operations to Mickleover and is due for redevelopment. On the 9th October 2010 the church was delighted to rededicate the saved window in a service that featured the Hospital Choir, The Rolls Royce Male Voice Choir with original music by Dana and Anne de Waal. The Bishop of Derby, Rt Rev Alastair Redfern, presided and many nurses and staff from the DRI were in attendance including the 70 year old lady who posed for, and is depicted in the top right panel of the window.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
parish church in the city of Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, UK. It is one of Derby's city centre churches which is in full use for worship. The church building dates from the 11th century and recently celebrated its 950th anniversary. The tower has a peal of eight bells, which are rung before the Sunday morning services.
Church History
First recorded around the reign of Edward the Confessor, around 1042 onwards, the church is recorded, along with three other churches in Derby, in the Domesday Book of 1086.In 1137 the church came under the jurisdiction of the Abbots of nearby Darley Abbey until the mid 17th century and the dissolution of the monasteries. Rebuilding in 1338 instigated by the first curate, John de Crich, saw the south aisle and Chantry added. Although significantly rebuilt around 1350 in the decorated style the church retains Norman features at the eastern end of the church on the east wall of the nave and the arcade responds. Five light windows survive in the south and north aisles from the 14th century. The church is the only medieval church remaining in the city centre.
The original high-pitched roof was lowered in 1509, the walls over the nave arcades raised and clerestory windows inserted. The chancel arch was widened and the east end was shortened by a bay and a new east window installed. The tower was also rebuilt at this time. The bells, a familiar sound to Derbians, were cast and hung around 1636 and are still in regular use, one having never needed recasting.
The late 18th century saw galleries added to the nave but, in 1852 the chancel was restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
and the pews, along with the impropriator's (lay rector's, see Chancel repair liability
Chancel repair liability
Chancel repair liability is a liability on some property owners in England and Wales to fund repairs to the chancel of their local church. This responsibility of owners of once rectorial land exists in perpetuity....
) gallery removed. Plaster was also removed and old roof timbers exposed. In the same decade the chancel and aisles were again restored and the large galleries at the west end of the nave removed. 1865 saw the south porch removed, the organ chamber made at the east end of the north aisle. In 1898, the west end of church and tower rebuilt were entirely rebuilt with great sympathy for the existing ancient east end of the church. In 1970, the present church and parish rooms, including meeting rooms, coffee rooms, office, kitchen and toilet facilities were added to the west end below the tower.
Historic Events
The Black DeathBlack Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
visited Derby in 1349. A third of the population died including sixty clergy one of which was St Peters vicar.
In 1530 Robert Liversage established a chapel for divine service. Each Friday thirteen poor men and women were paid a silver penny for attending. People fought to be amongst those thirteen. The Liversage Almshouses are nearby on London Road, the vicar and churchwardens being ex-officio trustees because Robert Liversage’s 1531 will bequeathing most of his property to the benefit of the poor of the parish.
Joan Waste
Joan Waste
Joan Waste was a blind woman who was burned in Derby for refusing to renounce her Protestant faith.-Biography:Waste was born blind in 1534, with her twin brother Roger, to a Derby barber, William Waste and his wife, Joan...
, a St Peter's ward parishioner and a blind rope maker, was tried for heresy at what is now Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral
The Cathedral of All Saints , is a cathedral church in the City of Derby, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Derby, and with an area of around is the smallest Anglican cathedral in England.-History:...
in 1556. She refused to deny her faith and was burned at the stake at Windmill Pit near Burton Road.
The plague again broke out in Derby in 1586 starting in St Peter's parish.
Around 1650, Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
stole an Elizabethan chair that had been presented to St Peter’s in 1593. Amazingly, in 1960, the chair was discovered at an auction and one of the churchwardens of the time negotiated its return to the church.
Robert Bakewell
Robert Bakewell (ironsmith)
Robert Bakewell was an English smith. He took an apprenticeship in London as an iron worker and became an extremely skilled ironsmith.In 1706, he started working at Melbourne Hall for Thomas Coke, and living in the town of Melbourne...
, the British metalsmith, died in 1752 and is buried in the churchyard.
William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry...
is said to have written, in 1768, the hymn Hark my Soul it is the Lord in the upper vestry at St Peter's.
St Peter's today
Although thought was given to closing the church because of small congregations in the late 1960s the church now plays an important and active role in the City of Derby. There are further plans to enhance the more modern part of the church to further serve the community as it has for a thousand years. In the summer of 2011 the second Derby BID (Business Improvement District) was formed with St Peters Church at its geographical centre. The St Peters Quarter exists to promote and enhance the area as has the nearby Cathedral Quarter, DerbyCathedral Quarter, Derby
The Cathedral Quarter is one of five areas within Derby city centre, based around the name of the Cathedral.It is bound by St Alkmund's Way and Ford Street to the north and west, the River Derwent to the east, and Albert Street, Victoria Street, Wardwick and Friargate to the south.It is a shopping,...
since its formation earlier.
During 2010 the church raised £6,000 to rehouse and display the Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
window in a specially prepared back lit position at the west of the north aisle. The window was originally commissioned in the late 1950s for the chapel at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
Derbyshire Royal Infirmary
The London Road Community Hospital, , is a hospital in Derby, part of the Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It is based in the city centre...
(DRI) which has moved operations to Mickleover and is due for redevelopment. On the 9th October 2010 the church was delighted to rededicate the saved window in a service that featured the Hospital Choir, The Rolls Royce Male Voice Choir with original music by Dana and Anne de Waal. The Bishop of Derby, Rt Rev Alastair Redfern, presided and many nurses and staff from the DRI were in attendance including the 70 year old lady who posed for, and is depicted in the top right panel of the window.