St Peter and St Paul, Bromley
Encyclopedia
St Peter and St Paul is a church in the town of Bromley
, Borough of Bromley
, in south east London
. Known familiarly as Bromley Parish Church, it is not far from Bromley High Street
and approximately halfway between Bromley North
and Bromley South
railway stations. The church is part of the Diocese of Rochester
within the Church of England
. Largely destroyed by bombing during the Second World War
, St Peter and St Paul was rebuilt in the 1950s.
(1835–1905) was Vicar of Bromley from 1865 to 1905.
’s Day, 13 October 1949, the foundation stone of the new church was laid by then Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II). Eight years later, the last phase of rebuilding was complete and on 14 December 1957 the new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester, Christopher Maude Chavasse
. The present church incorporates the medieval tower and much of the flint and fragments of the original stone building.
stained glass artist.
, was designed to support congregational worship, to accompany a traditional choir, and as a recital instrument for use alone or with other instruments. It has 3 manuals and pedals, 40 speaking stops, 6 couplers, 3 tremulants, and comprises 55 ranks with 2,708 pipes. The manual and pedal actions of the organ are mechanical; the stop control is electro-magnetic with a solid state capture combination action. The instrument was made and first assembled in Walker’s workshops at Brandon
, before being dismantled and installed in the church—it weights approximately 12 tons. The organ cases, gallery woodwork and carved pipeshades were designed by David Graebe.
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
, in south east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Known familiarly as Bromley Parish Church, it is not far from Bromley High Street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
and approximately halfway between Bromley North
Bromley North railway station
Bromley North railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south-east London, in Travelcard Zone 4. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern. It is the terminus of the short Bromley North Branch Line from Grove Park....
and Bromley South
Bromley South railway station
Bromley South railway station is a major interchange and station in Bromley town centre within the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London. It is in Travelcard Zone 5, and the station and all trains are operated by Southeastern...
railway stations. The church is part of the Diocese of Rochester
Diocese of Rochester
The Diocese of Rochester is a Church of England diocese in South-East England and forms part of the Province of Canterbury. It is an ancient diocese, having been established in 604; only the neighbouring Diocese of Canterbury is older in the Church of England....
within the Church of England
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...
. Largely destroyed by bombing during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, St Peter and St Paul was rebuilt in the 1950s.
Prior church
The pre-World War II church, generally in the Perpendicular style with a square embattled tower having a turret at one of the angles, had its north aisle rebuilt in 1792 and was completely refurbished and enlarged in 1830. Virtually the whole church—with the exception of the tower—was demolished by a bomb on the night of 16 April 1941. Arthur Gresley HellicarEvelyn Hellicar
Evelyn Hellicar was an English architect.Evelyn Arthur Gresley Hellicar was the son of Arthur Gresley Hellicar and Mary Ann Isabella Malthus . Arthur Hellicar came from the South West of England where his father was Vicar of Fivehead, Somerset, and Swell, Gloucestershire...
(1835–1905) was Vicar of Bromley from 1865 to 1905.
Present church
On St Edward the ConfessorEdward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
’s Day, 13 October 1949, the foundation stone of the new church was laid by then Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II). Eight years later, the last phase of rebuilding was complete and on 14 December 1957 the new church was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester, Christopher Maude Chavasse
Christopher Maude Chavasse
Christopher Maude Chavasse OBE MC ED was a British athlete, soldier, and religious leader. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, served in the First World War, and was later Bishop of Rochester.-Pre-war:...
. The present church incorporates the medieval tower and much of the flint and fragments of the original stone building.
Stained glass
Several of the modern windows were designed by Margaret Edith Rope, a prolific Arts and CraftsArts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
stained glass artist.
Organ
The organ, built in 1991 by J. W. Walker & Sons LtdJ. 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...
, was designed to support congregational worship, to accompany a traditional choir, and as a recital instrument for use alone or with other instruments. It has 3 manuals and pedals, 40 speaking stops, 6 couplers, 3 tremulants, and comprises 55 ranks with 2,708 pipes. The manual and pedal actions of the organ are mechanical; the stop control is electro-magnetic with a solid state capture combination action. The instrument was made and first assembled in Walker’s workshops at Brandon
Brandon, Suffolk
Brandon is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is in the Forest Heath local government district.Brandon is located in the Breckland area on the border of Suffolk with the adjoining county of Norfolk...
, before being dismantled and installed in the church—it weights approximately 12 tons. The organ cases, gallery woodwork and carved pipeshades were designed by David Graebe.
Tombs
Famous people buried at St Peter and St Paul have included:- John Yonge or YoungJohn Young (bishop)John Young was an English academic and bishop.-Life:He was educated at Mercers' School in London, and graduated BA at the University of Cambridge in 1552. He became a Fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge in 1553, and Master there in 1567...
, bishop of Rochester - Elizabeth Jervis Porter JohnsonElizabeth PorterElizabeth Jervis Porter was the wife of Samuel Johnson.Born Elizabeth Jarvis , her first marriage was to Henry Porter, a Birmingham merchant, with whom she had three children...
, wife of Samuel JohnsonSamuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
: her memorial was salvaged after World War II and re-erected in the rebuilt church - John Hawkesworth, writer, editor, and friend of JohnsonSamuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
- Zachary PearceZachary PearceZachary Pearce, sometimes known as Zachariah , was an English Bishop of Bangor and Bishop of Rochester. He was a controversialist and a notable early critical writer defending John Milton, attacking Richard Bentley's 1732 edition of Paradise Lost the following year.-Life:Pearce was born the son of...
, bishop of Rochester - John GiffordJohn GiffordJohn Gifford was an English political writer. He was born John Richards Green until changing his name at the age of 23....
, British political writer and supporter of Pitt the YoungerWilliam Pitt the YoungerWilliam Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806... - Sir Claude and Sir Edward Scott, first and second baronets of Lychet Minster