St Peter's Church, Sudbury
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Church, Sudbury, is a redundant
Anglican
church in the town of Sudbury
, Suffolk
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. The church stands in the centre of the town in a dominating position on Market Hill.
A church has been on the site since at least 1180, but the current structure dates from the 15th century, though there have been several restorations in the intervening period. Formerly a spire
d church, St. Peter's now has a bell tower
which, like the rest of the building, is mainly covered in flint
. The interior of the church features paintings by George Frederick Bodley
and Robert Cardinal, and a pipe organ
originally made by T. C. Lewis.
to St Gregory's church. The church was built in three stages, beginning with the first two bays
of the chancel
and the base of the tower in about 1330–48. The later stages of building were in about 1360, and in about 1425–50. In 1643, during the Civil War
, the iconoclast
William Dowsing
damaged many of the items in the church. A restoration
took place in 1685, which included some alterations to the nave
roof. A clock was installed in 1701, and during the first half of the 18th century a spire of metal and wood was added; this was replaced by another spire in 1810. The church was restored again in 1858–59 by William Butterfield
; this included removal of the three galleries and the box pew
s, re-laying the chancel floor, and replacement of the pulpit
. Stained glass made by Hardman & Co.
was installed in some of the windows, and more stained glass by Hardman was installed later in the century.
In 1898 the chancel was restored and redecorated by George Frederick Bodley
. A wooden reredos
was installed in the Lady Chapel
. The stonework of the exterior was restored in 1911, when statues were inserted into three niches
in the south porch. A further restoration took place in 1968 when the upper part of the tower was replaced, the spire was taken down, and most of Bodley's paintings were removed from the chancel. The church was declared redundant in 1972, and in 1976 was vested
in the Redundant Churches Fund, the forerunner of the Churches Conservation Trust. A charitable trust
, The Friends of St. Peter's has been established to maintain and improve the church. Since being made redundant, the church has been used occasionally for services, and for a variety of events, including concerts, organ recitals and exhibitions.
, with some stone, brick and tiles. Its plan is not quite rectangular, as it had to be confined into a limited space. The northwest corner is cut across, and the chancel is not fully in alignment with the nave. The plan consists of a six-bay nave with a clerestory
, north and south aisle
s, a two-bay chancel with the organ chamber and vestry
to the north and the Lady Chapel to the south, and an extended sanctuary to the east, and a west tower incorporated in the body of the church. Its architectural styles are Decorated and Perpendicular. The tower is in three stages with angle buttress
es. Its parapet
consists of stepped battlement
s, and at the corners are statues rather than pinnacle
s. The aisles also have battlemented parapets, and there are more buttresses around the church. The main entrance to the church is through the west door at the base of the tower. Formerly the main entrance was through the south porch. The three statues on the exterior of the porch represent Christ, with Saint Peter on one side and Saint Gregory
on the other.
are in six bays, the piers
on the north arcade differing from those on the south. The roof is ceiled
and divided into panels, with gilt
bosses
at the intersections. It is the only medieval
nave roof in Suffolk to be ceiled and panelled in its original form. Some of Bodley's painting remains on the chancel arch. In the south aisle is the octagonal 15th-century font
. This was removed from the church in the 17th century to be used as a horse trough
, but was returned to the church when the horses refused to drink from it. In the chancel the reredos
designed by Bodley measures 20 feet (6.1 m) high by 7 feet (2.1 m) wide, and depicts the Crucifixion
. On the sides of the chancel are 15th-century screens. In the Lady Chapel the font is carved with a depiction of the Nativity
, and the reredos is a copy of Leonardo da Vinci
's Last Supper
. Over the north and south doors are paintings of Moses
and Aaron
. These were painted by Robert Cardinall, and formerly hung in a position flanking the reredos at the east end of the church. The lectern
, pulpit
and altar are Victorian
, as is the stained glass. The three-manual
organ was built in 1911 by T. C. Lewis. It was renovated in 1942 by Henry Willis & Sons
, and rebuilt in 1987 by Bishop. A major rebuild was carried out by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
in 1999. The ring
consists of ten bells, the oldest three being cast in about 1470, and the most recent two in 1978.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
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 town of Sudbury
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, 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, and is 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...
. The church stands in the centre of the town in a dominating position on Market Hill.
A church has been on the site since at least 1180, but the current structure dates from the 15th century, though there have been several restorations in the intervening period. Formerly a spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
d church, St. Peter's now has a bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
which, like the rest of the building, is mainly covered in flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
. The interior of the church features paintings by George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
and Robert Cardinal, and a pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
originally made by T. C. Lewis.
History
The earliest documentary record of the church is in 1180, when it was a chapel of easeChapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
to St Gregory's church. The church was built in three stages, beginning with the first two bays
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:...
of 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 the base of the tower in about 1330–48. The later stages of building were in about 1360, and in about 1425–50. In 1643, during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, the iconoclast
Iconoclasm
Iconoclasm is the deliberate destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually with religious or political motives. It is a frequent component of major political or religious changes...
William Dowsing
William Dowsing
William Dowsing was an English iconoclast who operated at the time of the English Civil War. Dowsing was a puritan soldier who was born in Laxfield, Suffolk...
damaged many of the items in the church. A restoration
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...
took place in 1685, which included some alterations to the 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...
roof. A clock was installed in 1701, and during the first half of the 18th century a spire of metal and wood was added; this was replaced by another spire in 1810. The church was restored again in 1858–59 by William Butterfield
William Butterfield
William Butterfield was a Gothic Revival architect and associated with the Oxford Movement . He is noted for his use of polychromy-Biography:...
; this included removal of the three galleries and the box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s, re-laying the chancel floor, and replacement of the 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...
. Stained glass made by Hardman & Co.
Hardman & Co.
Hardman & Co., otherwise John Hardman Trading Co., Ltd., founded 1838, began manufacturing stained glass in 1844 and became one of the world's leading manufacturers of stained glass and ecclesiastical fittings...
was installed in some of the windows, and more stained glass by Hardman was installed later in the century.
In 1898 the chancel was restored and redecorated by George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
. A wooden reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
was installed in the Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. The stonework of the exterior was restored in 1911, when statues were inserted into three niches
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
in the south porch. A further restoration took place in 1968 when the upper part of the tower was replaced, the spire was taken down, and most of Bodley's paintings were removed from the chancel. The church was declared redundant in 1972, and in 1976 was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Redundant Churches Fund, the forerunner of the Churches Conservation Trust. A charitable trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
, The Friends of St. Peter's has been established to maintain and improve the church. Since being made redundant, the church has been used occasionally for services, and for a variety of events, including concerts, organ recitals and exhibitions.
Exterior
The church is constructed mainly in flintFlint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
, with some stone, brick and tiles. Its plan is not quite rectangular, as it had to be confined into a limited space. The northwest corner is cut across, and the chancel is not fully in alignment with the nave. The plan consists of a six-bay nave with a clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
, north and south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s, a two-bay chancel with the organ chamber and 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....
to the north and the Lady Chapel to the south, and an extended sanctuary to the east, and a west tower incorporated in the body of the church. Its architectural styles are Decorated and Perpendicular. The tower is in three stages with angle buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es. Its 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...
consists of stepped 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...
s, and at the corners are statues rather than 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. The aisles also have battlemented parapets, and there are more buttresses around the church. The main entrance to the church is through the west door at the base of the tower. Formerly the main entrance was through the south porch. The three statues on the exterior of the porch represent Christ, with Saint Peter on one side and Saint Gregory
Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I , better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death...
on the other.
Interior
The arcadesArcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
are in six bays, the piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
on the north arcade differing from those on the south. The roof is ceiled
Ceiling
A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that covers the upper limit of a room. It is generally not a structural element, but a finished surface concealing the underside of the floor or roof structure above....
and divided into panels, with gilt
Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
bosses
Boss (architecture)
In architecture, a boss is a knob or protrusion of stone or wood.Bosses can often be found in the ceilings of buildings, particularly at the intersection of a vault. In Gothic architecture, such roof bosses are often intricately carved with foliage, heraldic devices or other decorations...
at the intersections. It is the only 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...
nave roof in Suffolk to be ceiled and panelled in its original form. Some of Bodley's painting remains on the chancel arch. In the south aisle is the octagonal 15th-century 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:...
. This was removed from the church in the 17th century to be used as a horse trough
Watering trough
A watering trough is a receptacle for the storage of water so both domestic and non-domestic livestock can obtain drinking water....
, but was returned to the church when the horses refused to drink from it. In the chancel the reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
designed by Bodley measures 20 feet (6.1 m) high by 7 feet (2.1 m) wide, and depicts the Crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
. On the sides of the chancel are 15th-century screens. In the Lady Chapel the font is carved with a depiction of the Nativity
Nativity of Jesus
The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical gospels and in various apocryphal texts....
, and the reredos is a copy of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
's Last Supper
Last Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
. Over the north and south doors are paintings of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
and Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
. These were painted by Robert Cardinall, and formerly hung in a position flanking the reredos at the east end of the church. The lectern
Lectern
A lectern is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon...
, 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...
and altar are Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, as is the stained glass. The three-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ was built in 1911 by T. C. Lewis. It was renovated in 1942 by Henry Willis & Sons
Henry Willis & Sons
thumb|250px|St Bees Priory organ, the last major instrument to be personally supervised by "Father" Henry Willis, 1899Henry Willis & Sons is a British firm of pipe organ builders founded in 1845 in Liverpool. Although most of their installations have been in the UK, examples can be found in other...
, and rebuilt in 1987 by Bishop. A major rebuild was carried out by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd
J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd is a British firm of organ builders established in 1828 by Joseph William Walker in London. Walker organs were popular additions to churches during the Gothic Revival era of church building and restoration in Victorian Britain, and instruments built by Walker are found in...
in 1999. The ring
Ring of bells
"Ring of bells" is a term most often applied to a set of bells hung in the English style, typically for change ringing...
consists of ten bells, the oldest three being cast in about 1470, and the most recent two in 1978.