St Peter
Rodmarton, Gloucestershire
Norman church with steeple, nave, chancel, north aisle, south vestry.
The Chapel of Ease to the parish of Rodmarton was associated with the old Manor of Torlton one of the Achelie manors dating from Saxon times. After the Conquest the manor belonged to William de Ow; William Rufus deprived him of the manor in 1095 and it was given to Edward Earl of Salisbury whose son, Walter, gave it to the Bishop of Salisbury in 1142 as ‘recompense for the harm done by his son William’ a comment thought to refer to King Stephen’s troubled reign.
The Manor formed the endowment of a prebendal stall in Salisbury Cathedral. Magister Deacon was the first prebendary in 1226. Salisbury Cathedral was responsible for the nomination of the priest until mid-19th century. There is still a Prebendary of Torlton with a stall in the choir today. The chapel fell into disrepair but was eventually restored in 1875.
There is a Norman font with large open quatrefoils in low relief and four stained glass windows by Tom Denny, installed by Patrick Glazier.
This simple but practical little chapel that has served the needs of the parish for nearly 1,000 years continues to do so today.