St Peter

The school came first in the mid 1860’s and was used as a place of worship as well as a school. As more funds became available and the church community grew in the school, so the building of the new St Peter’s began to take shape next door. Unfortunately Mrs Fielde died before the foundation stone could be laid.

The nave of the church contains some very fine carvings by William Pashley, and by Harry Hems, two of the finest Victorian sculptors. The roundels over the back door and the main entrance were carved by Pashley, as was the scowling face of the devil shielding his eyes. The huge stone heads of Archbishops in the nave were also by him. John Ridal, who was the builder of the chancel, presented the two large carvings of angels bearing shields just up by the golden

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the building of St Peter’s is the painted glass by Burlison and Grylls. The glass itself is not particularly notable, but each window in St Peter’s is by the same firm and completed within half a century, which gives a symmetry and unity to the windows and indeed to the church itself. One of the features of Burlison and Grylls’ work was photographic likenesses. There are two in the large rear window of the church and the face of the nearest soldier in the small window on the same wall can also be spotted. The most unusual window is one copied from a cartoon in the Magazine ‘Punch’ entitled ‘Who goes there’?

William Walker, whose family had a long association with St Peter’s, designed the town War Memorial in bronze on the back wall. Listed amongst those who lost their lives are two former St Peter’s School pupils, Captain Bell and Private Hull, who were awarded the VC.

Behind the high altar is the painted reredos designed by Bodley. It was given as a memorial to Canon Foote who had been vicar for 51 years. A bronze memorial to Canon Foote can be seen under the right hand angel just behind the golden gates.