HERITAGE STATEMENT ST PETERS CHURCH THETFORD For THETFORD COUNCIL

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†attributed to Edward Stanton and Christopher Horsnaile. (GF) 5 4.3 The Contents of the Church The church has a number of interior fittings and fixtures which are particular to it. Those more prominent features are noted here, some of which have more importance than others. n.b. this is not a complete gazetteer of the churches contents. Wrought iron sword rests c18thC Identified by Pevsner, not located during survey. Possibly now removed. The lobby Pine boarded entrance lobby to North Door. Unremarkable in quality and probably dating from the late 19thC. The font Octagonal stone font probably of late 19 th C or later ‘off the peg’ quality. The Reredos Installed in 1893, the gift of Cornell Henry Fison, The reredos is well carved in oak and features a bas relief representation of the last supper as its centerpiece, with two major panels to each side with illuminated bible verses, further flanked by a narrow floral panel The coincidence of the installation of the reredos with the last major restoration suggests that the altar was raised at this time and tiled with encaustic tiles. The relationship of the altar with the mediaeval colonnade of the North Aisle is unfortunate. The Altar Rail The altar has a c19thC wrought iron and timber communion rail set into it, which is unremarkable in quality, though probably contemporary with the raising of the altar. The Pulpit Modern (late 20thC) oak pulpit, unfixed. The screen The Chancel screen is not original to this church, but was relocated from St Cuthbert’s in 1976. As a consequence it has been quite crudely adapted in width with side members of oak, not quite so well made as the original nor completely matching in colour and fini9sh. However the original elements are quite finely carved and its age is uncertain. Though probably 19 th C, it is possibly earlier The glass. The Church is mostly plainly glazed with the majority of the glass surviving probably from the 18 th C or earlier. The plain glazing of the north clerestory includes a pane inscribed ‘H George Plasterer Beccles 1892’ There are several panels of stained glass in the church: The window to the east end of the chancel is attributed to Mr. George Bird Burrell 6 , in the period 1789-91 by Osborne, but is also elsewhere attributed to Mr. Shelford Bidwell in1870 7 . There are four stained glass windows with heraldic devices to the South of the 5 N Pevsner: ‘Norfolk 2: Northwest and South’ (1999) PP 699-722 6 David Osborne: “St Peter’s Church” Lecture given in the St Peter’s Church, November 2000 7 ‘A Short Historical Guide to the ancient Borough of Thetford, in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk’ P W Boughton and Sons 1908.
the Nave 8 attributed to G.B.Burrell 1791, which bear the arms of Mingay, Birch of Wretham, Buxton of Shadwell Court, Lord Petre and Sir William Altham. At the West end of the North aisle, a window with a coat of arms signed by Wm. Peckitt dated 1771. 9 The Brass Lectern The lectern is a memorial to Cornell Henry Fison, (c1825-c1895) a local merchant, magistrate and resident of Kings House in 1883, who presented the reredos (in 1893). The Monuments There are various memorial tablets, the most noteworthy being those to Matthew Manning, M.D., the Rev. H. C. Manning, and the Rev. Thomas Sworde. There is a cartouche commemorating Peirson d1721 attributed to Edward Stanton and Christopher Horsnaile. There are a number of memorial stones within the floor of the church also. May of these have been covered over with adhesives and latex used in laying a linoleum floor. The Bells A peal of eight was recast by Thomas Osborn, bell founder of Downham Market from the original bells and hung in 1790/1791 by Lord Rivers following the rebuilding of the tower in 1789. These were re-hung in c1870 when the church was restored. They were alleged to be unsafe in 1936, leading to controversy when a faculty hearing for their repair was adjourned. Following discussion they were reconditioned and re-hung at a cost of about £270, which was raised by Public Subscription. They were re-dedicated on December 18 th , 1937 by the Rev. Canon H.K... Johnston, Vicar of St Cuthbert’s and Rural Dean. 1011 In addition to the maker's name the first has “Cum voco venite; " the fourth Our voices shall with joyful sound Make hills and valleys echo round; the fifth in wedlock's bands all ye who join With hands your hearts unite, So shall our tuneful tongues combine To laud the nuptial rite ; and the eighth " Percute dulce cano. 12 The Bell ringing Chamber effects There are a number of late 19 th C and early 20 th C painted timber plaques commemorating the hanging of the bells and ringing of extended peals The Clock Purchased by Subscription and placed in the tower in 1867. Maker’s plaque, Harris, Thetford 1867 The Loose Door. There is an unfixed gothic tracery screen door, possibly 18 th C in the tower porch. 8 N Pevsner: ‘Norfolk 2: Northwest and South’ (1999) PP 699-722 9 ibid 10 ‘A Short Historical Guide to the ancient Borough of Thetford, in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk’ P 27 W Boughton and Sons 1908 11 ‘The Ringing World’ April 16 th 1937 P 249 12 ‘A Short Historical Guide to the ancient Borough of Thetford, in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk’ P W Boughton and Sons 1908
Page 1 and 2: HERITAGE STATEMENT ST PETERS CHURCH
Page 3 and 4: 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 St Peters Chur
Page 5 and 6: The fortunes of the town and number
Page 7 and 8: As noted, the population quadrupled
Page 9 and 10: How much this drawing of St Peter
Page 11: We know from the 1851 Ecclesiastica
Page 15 and 16: and the decline of Thetford in nati
Page 17 and 18: The phase one works which constitut
Page 19 and 20: The need to remove the pews and the
Page 21 and 22: introductions. They are as describe
Page 23: The justification for direct connec

HERITAGE STATEMENT ST PETERS CHURCH THETFORD For THETFORD COUNCIL

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