St Peters Church, Petersham
Encyclopedia
St Peter's is the parish church
of the village
of Petersham
in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
. St Peter's is part of the Diocese of Southwark
in the Church of England.
is in 666 AD when certain lands were endowed to the Benedictine Abbey
of St Peter’s at Chertsey. The name Petersham is not derived for St Peter
as, in Saxon times, it was called Piterichesham which means a home or enclosure of Patricius or Patrick, but the name Petersham was in common use by the 16th century.
It is probable that there has been a church on this site since Saxon times as the 1086
Domesday Survey
entry for Petersham suggests by its phraseology
that the church there then had been restored. In 1266 a Norman
church was built, of which only part of the chancel
is left. The oldest visible portion of the church today is the blocked 13th century lancet window
in the chancel
, which can be seen from outside the church. In 1505 the body of the church was rebuilt (except for the chancel) and possibly enlarged so that the building became rectangular in shape and measured 15 ft.6ins. by 43 ft. Small transept
s and a north gallery were added in around 1600.
s were added, along with the tower at the west end which is of red brick
. The gallery in the north transept was added shortly
afterwards. In 1790 the west porch
and vestry
were added and the upper half of the tower
rebuilt. The music gallery at the west end was probably erected about 1800.
More major alterations took place in 1840 when the south transept was enlarged to its
present size and its galleries put in. The enclosed staircase against the west wall was built
and many other repairs and alterations carried out. These alterations included new pew
s
and, with the rearrangement of the old ones, 362 sittings were provided. St. Peter’s had
now reached its present shape; an irregular cruciform
measuring internally 62 ft from north to
south and about 38 ft from east to west.
In 1874, the chancel was completely refurbished under the direction of John Gilbert Scott (son of the ecclesiastical architect Sir Gilbert Scott
) whose residence was the Manor House, Ham
and who had, the previous year, proposed a plan for the structural improvement of the chancel (the parishioners turned this down). A chancel screen was erected in 1899, but removed in 1972 along with two box pews that obscured the altar
.
The church sustained some damage in the Second World War
and restoration work was carried out during 1949-51. The city of Vancouver, British Columbia
, gave a substantial amount towards the cost of the repairs.
In 2009, work began on a project to replace the organ with a brand new, non-electric model. This involved removing a large section of one of the balconies at the south side of the church.
of Canterbury
and those of the diocese of Rochester
. The arms on the east wall of the north transept those of the Earls of Dysart
who were the owners of nearby Ham House. The present organ was purchased in 1914. One of its predecessors, from 1838–53, had been a barrel organ
which provided hymn tunes. The lower part of the present tower probably dates from 1505 and in the wooden belfry there is a bell which bears the inscription "Bryan Eldridge made mee" and the date "1620", when it was cast at Chertsey
.
The unique feature of St. Peter’s is the Georgian
box pews. Few now survive in churches and none so close to London. A fee used to be charged for each family pew, but there were not enough to seat all the members of the parish. One vicar in Georgian times noted that parishioners were ‘constantly complaining of the injustice of their being obliged to contribute to the Church rates, without the power of obtaining a sitting in the Church.’
is that of Mary Karze, from 1686.
, cousin of Charles II
. His supposed wife was Lady Francesca Bard, mother of his son Dudley Bard (born c. 1666). A document exists which seems to be their marriage certificate, signed by the then minister of Petersham, and Lady Francesca often claimed that they had been married. Unfortunately the parish registers are incomplete and the true story will probably never be known.
1718 saw the marriage of Lady Jane Hyde, the daughter of the Earl of Rochester
. She was a great beauty and was written about by Swift, Gay and Pope amongst others. Her portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller
hangs among the "Beauties" at Hampton Court Palace
.
A marriage with royal connections that certainly took place was that between the future Earl of Strathmore and Nina Cavendish-Bentinck of Forbes House, Ham Common on 16 July 1881. The youngest daughter of this marriage, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
, married the Duke of York
in 1923 and became Queen Elizabeth in 1936 when he succeeded to the throne as King George VI.
was a gifted authoress and editor.
Mary Burdekin (died 1772) was a pastry-cook with a shop in Hill Street, Richmond. She is said to be the original maker of Maids of Honour pastries. She is buried in the churchyard.
George Cole and his family are commemorated in the monument in the chancel erected in 1624. He was a barrister and a member of the Middle Temple
. He married his wife Frances at St. Peter’s in 1585. The family vault is under the chancel.
Theodora Jane Cowper (d.1824), the cousin of the poet William Cowper
. They had a great love for each other, but her father would not allow their marriage because of their close relationship. Cowper addressed her in his poems as "Delia". Her grave is in the churchyard.
Sir John Whittaker Ellis (1829–1912) is buried in the churchyard and has a plaque in the north chancel. He was Lord Mayor of London
1881-2 and the first mayor of the Borough of Richmond 1890-1. He lived at Buccleuch House, Petersham from 1887-1901.
Sir Thomas Jenner (1637–1707) was made Recorder of London in 1683 and Justice of the Common Places 1706-7. He had been a staunch supporter of the Catholic King James II
and his career suffered under his Protestant successors. He died at his home, Montrose House, Petersham and is buried in the churchyard. There is also a plaque to him on the chancel wall.
Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale
(d.1698), a clever and ambitious woman, Countess of Dysart in her own right, having succeeded her father, William Murray, the owner of Ham House. She married Lauderdale at Petersham in 1672. He was a member of the notorious Cabal Ministry
of Charles II and amongst his titles was the one of Baron Petersham. She is buried with other members of the Dysart family in a vault under the chancel.
Captain George Vancouver
(June 22, 1757 – May 10, 1798), the famous maritime explorer, is buried in the churchyard and has a memorial tablet in the church. He sailed with Captain Cook
to Antarctica and was with him on his last fatal voyage to the Pacific. He discovered Vancouver Island
in British Columbia
, Canada. He wrote his Voyage of Discovery when lodging in the village at, it is thought, The Glen, a cottage in River Lane, Petersham.
More information on St Peter's Church and other places in Petersham is available from the Local Studies Collection.
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....
of the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
. St Peter's is part of the Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
in the Church of England.
Early history
The earliest record of the village of PetershamPetersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
is in 666 AD when certain lands were endowed to the Benedictine Abbey
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
of St Peter’s at Chertsey. The name Petersham is not derived for St Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
as, in Saxon times, it was called Piterichesham which means a home or enclosure of Patricius or Patrick, but the name Petersham was in common use by the 16th century.
It is probable that there has been a church on this site since Saxon times as the 1086
Domesday Survey
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
entry for Petersham suggests by its phraseology
Phraseology
In linguistics, phraseology is the study of set or fixed expressions, such as idioms, phrasal verbs, and other types of multi-word lexical units , in which the component parts of the expression take on a meaning more specific than or otherwise not predictable from the sum of their meanings when...
that the church there then had been restored. In 1266 a 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...
church was built, of which only part 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...
is left. The oldest visible portion of the church today is the blocked 13th century lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
in 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...
, which can be seen from outside the church. In 1505 the body of the church was rebuilt (except for the chancel) and possibly enlarged so that the building became rectangular in shape and measured 15 ft.6ins. by 43 ft. Small 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 and a north gallery were added in around 1600.
Later history
Early in the 17th century, north and south transeptTransept
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 were added, along with the tower at the west end which is of red brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
. The gallery in the north transept was added shortly
afterwards. In 1790 the west porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
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....
were added and the upper half of the tower
rebuilt. The music gallery at the west end was probably erected about 1800.
More major alterations took place in 1840 when the south transept was enlarged to its
present size and its galleries put in. The enclosed staircase against the west wall was built
and many other repairs and alterations carried out. These alterations included new pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
s
and, with the rearrangement of the old ones, 362 sittings were provided. St. Peter’s had
now reached its present shape; an irregular cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
measuring internally 62 ft from north to
south and about 38 ft from east to west.
In 1874, the chancel was completely refurbished under the direction of John Gilbert Scott (son of the ecclesiastical architect Sir Gilbert Scott
Gilbert Scott
Gilbert Scott may refer to several of a family of British architects:* Sir George Gilbert Scott , who was principally known for his architectural designs for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and St Pancras Station...
) whose residence was the Manor House, Ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
and who had, the previous year, proposed a plan for the structural improvement of the chancel (the parishioners turned this down). A chancel screen was erected in 1899, but removed in 1972 along with two box pews that obscured the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
.
The church sustained some damage in 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...
and restoration work was carried out during 1949-51. The city of Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, gave a substantial amount towards the cost of the repairs.
In 2009, work began on a project to replace the organ with a brand new, non-electric model. This involved removing a large section of one of the balconies at the south side of the church.
Detailed description
The font dates from 1740. The pulpit was made locally, by carpenter John Long, in 1796 and the reading desk is probably of the same date. The Royal Arms under the chancel arch are from the reign of George III from 1810. The adjacent shields, of local work, were placed there on 1898 and represent, from left to right, the keys of St. Peter, the arms of the dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and those 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....
. The arms on the east wall of the north transept those of the Earls of Dysart
Earl of Dysart
Earl of Dysart is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1643 for William Murray, who had earlier represented Fowey and East Looe in the English House of Commons. He was made Lord Huntingtower at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland. He was succeeded by his daughter, the...
who were the owners of nearby Ham House. The present organ was purchased in 1914. One of its predecessors, from 1838–53, had been a barrel organ
Barrel organ
A barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
which provided hymn tunes. The lower part of the present tower probably dates from 1505 and in the wooden belfry there is a bell which bears the inscription "Bryan Eldridge made mee" and the date "1620", when it was cast at Chertsey
Chertsey
Chertsey is a town in Surrey, England, on the River Thames and its tributary rivers such as the River Bourne. It can be accessed by road from junction 11 of the M25 London orbital motorway. It shares borders with Staines, Laleham, Shepperton, Addlestone, Woking, Thorpe and Egham...
.
The unique feature of St. Peter’s is the Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
box pews. Few now survive in churches and none so close to London. A fee used to be charged for each family pew, but there were not enough to seat all the members of the parish. One vicar in Georgian times noted that parishioners were ‘constantly complaining of the injustice of their being obliged to contribute to the Church rates, without the power of obtaining a sitting in the Church.’
Churchyard
The churchyard was originally much smaller than it is today, having been enlarged eastwards in 1801 and northwards by 2 strips of land, first in 1867 and again in 1919. Its oldest headstoneHeadstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
is that of Mary Karze, from 1686.
Marriages at St. Peter's
Mystery surrounds the supposed marriage at Petersham in 1664 of Prince Rupert of the RhinePrince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
, cousin of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. His supposed wife was Lady Francesca Bard, mother of his son Dudley Bard (born c. 1666). A document exists which seems to be their marriage certificate, signed by the then minister of Petersham, and Lady Francesca often claimed that they had been married. Unfortunately the parish registers are incomplete and the true story will probably never be known.
1718 saw the marriage of Lady Jane Hyde, the daughter of the Earl of Rochester
Earl of Rochester
Earl of Rochester was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1652 in favour of the Royalist soldier Henry Wilmot, 2nd Viscount Wilmot. He had already been created Baron Wilmot, of Adderbury in the County of Oxford, in 1643, also in the Peerage of England...
. She was a great beauty and was written about by Swift, Gay and Pope amongst others. Her portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller
Godfrey Kneller
Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and was court painter to British monarchs from Charles II to George I...
hangs among the "Beauties" at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
.
A marriage with royal connections that certainly took place was that between the future Earl of Strathmore and Nina Cavendish-Bentinck of Forbes House, Ham Common on 16 July 1881. The youngest daughter of this marriage, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, married the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
in 1923 and became Queen Elizabeth in 1936 when he succeeded to the throne as King George VI.
People buried or commemorated in the church/churchyard
Mary Berry (1763–1852) and Agnes Berry (1764–1852). These unmarried sisters were friends and correspondents of the author and diarist Horace Walpole, who left them Little Strawberry Hill, in his will. They lived at Devonshire Lodge, Petersham and are buried in the churchyard. Mary BerryMary Berry (writer)
Mary Berry was an English author, born at Kirkbridge, North Yorkshire.-Walpole:She and her sister Agnes had a remarkable association with Horace Walpole...
was a gifted authoress and editor.
Mary Burdekin (died 1772) was a pastry-cook with a shop in Hill Street, Richmond. She is said to be the original maker of Maids of Honour pastries. She is buried in the churchyard.
George Cole and his family are commemorated in the monument in the chancel erected in 1624. He was a barrister and a member of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. He married his wife Frances at St. Peter’s in 1585. The family vault is under the chancel.
Theodora Jane Cowper (d.1824), the cousin of the poet 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...
. They had a great love for each other, but her father would not allow their marriage because of their close relationship. Cowper addressed her in his poems as "Delia". Her grave is in the churchyard.
Sir John Whittaker Ellis (1829–1912) is buried in the churchyard and has a plaque in the north chancel. He was Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
1881-2 and the first mayor of the Borough of Richmond 1890-1. He lived at Buccleuch House, Petersham from 1887-1901.
Sir Thomas Jenner (1637–1707) was made Recorder of London in 1683 and Justice of the Common Places 1706-7. He had been a staunch supporter of the Catholic King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and his career suffered under his Protestant successors. He died at his home, Montrose House, Petersham and is buried in the churchyard. There is also a plaque to him on the chancel wall.
Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale
Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale
Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale was an influential British noblewoman. She is famous for the political influence she held, which was unusual for women of the period, and for her support of Charles II during his exile as a member of the secret organisation known as the Sealed Knot.-Early...
(d.1698), a clever and ambitious woman, Countess of Dysart in her own right, having succeeded her father, William Murray, the owner of Ham House. She married Lauderdale at Petersham in 1672. He was a member of the notorious Cabal Ministry
Cabal Ministry
The Cabal Ministry refers to a group of high councillers of King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to circa 1674.The term "Cabal" has a double meaning in this context. It refers to the fact that, for perhaps the first time in English history, effective power in a royal council...
of Charles II and amongst his titles was the one of Baron Petersham. She is buried with other members of the Dysart family in a vault under the chancel.
Captain George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
(June 22, 1757 – May 10, 1798), the famous maritime explorer, is buried in the churchyard and has a memorial tablet in the church. He sailed with Captain Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
to Antarctica and was with him on his last fatal voyage to the Pacific. He discovered Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada. He wrote his Voyage of Discovery when lodging in the village at, it is thought, The Glen, a cottage in River Lane, Petersham.
Further reading
- Cloake, John (1991) Richmond past: a visual history of Richmond, Kew, Petersham and Ham
- Dunbar, Janet (1979) A prospect of Richmond; rev. edition
- Mills, R. S. (1949) Petersham people and stories: three talks reprinted from the "Richmond Herald"
- Warren, Charles D. (1938) History of St. Peter’s Church, Petersham, Surrey
More information on St Peter's Church and other places in Petersham is available from the Local Studies Collection.