Church of St Peter and St Mary, Stowmarket

Coordinates: 52°11′18″N 0°59′47″E / 52.1883°N 0.9964°E / 52.1883; 0.9964
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Church of St Peter and St Mary, Stowmarket
Decorated Gothic
Groundbreaking14th century
Specifications
Bells8

The Church of St Peter and St Mary stands in the town of Stowmarket, Suffolk, England. It is an active Church of England parish church in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The church dates from the 14th century and is a Grade I listed building.

History

The Church of St Peter and St Mary dates from the 14th century.[1] It stands at the centre of the medieval town and serves as its parish church.[2][3] The double designation to Saint Peter and Saint Mary reflects a late-medieval amalgamation when the living of St Peter was combined with that of a separate church dedicated to St Mary.[4] Tree-ring dating places timbers used in the spire of the church to the years 1362–1363.[4] The main body of the church dates from this time, although the tower is later. The church was extensively restored during three separate renovations in the Victorian era.[1] The spire has been replaced a number of times, most recently in 1994.[4]

In the 17th century the vicar was

Second World Wars.[7] In November 2000, the then vicar of St Peter and St Mary, was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment for embezzlement of church funds.[8][9]

The church remains an active parish church and regular services are held.[3]

Architecture

The church is built of local

Medieval times, it was replaced in 1674, destroyed in the Great storm of 1703, replaced in 1712 and removed due to its instability in 1975. A further timber replacement was installed in 1993–1994, which replicates the earlier structures in having an external gallery.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ The garden of the former vicarage, now renamed Milton House, contains a Mulberry tree reputedly planted by Milton.[6]
  2. Lords of the Manor of Gipping, a hamlet just outside Stowmarket. A descendant, James Tyrrell, is reputed to have confessed to the murder of the Princes in the Tower.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Historic England. "Church of St Peter and St Mary (Grade I) (1208624)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Stowmarket churches". stowmarkettowncouncil.gov.uk. Stowmarket Town Council. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Church homepage". Stowmarket Parish church. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bettley & Pevsner 2015, pp. 503–505.
  5. ^ "Church of St Peter and St Mary". www.suffolkchurches.co.uk. Suffolk Churches. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Milton's other mulberry trees". www.moruslondinium.org. Morus Londinium. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Stowmarket SS Peter and Mary Church". www.roll-of-honour.com. Roll of Honour. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. ^ Rimmer, Judy (5 January 2002). "New priest appointed for Stowmarket". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  9. ^ Sapstead, David (21 November 2000). "Crook who became vicar gets 9 months". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Stowmarket Town Trail" (PDF). Stowmarket Town Council. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Ann Tyrell-Portfolio of Brasses". Monumental Brass Society. Retrieved 14 August 2022.

Sources

External links