Weight: 784 lbs Diameter: 34" Bell 1 of 5
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 1096 Tower ID: 17454 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Brockley: St Peter
Diocese of Southwark
Church, 637202
http://www.stpetersbrockley.org.ukOverview
Grid reference: TQ 368 758
The church was built in the period during 1866 – 1870 to designs by Frederick Marrable. The style is Decorated, with the majority of the windows in a geometric style, and is arguably rather more successful internally than externally. The show side of the building is the west end and here the tower is positioned centrally with flanking gabled vestibules on either side creating a symmetrical front.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and apsidal chancel, transepts (with upper levels), narrow aisles, west end gallery and facilities below, apsidal vestry and meeting room/children’s room provision to the north east of the chancel.
Dimensions:
Nave and chancel and aisles approx 45m x 21m (150ft x 70ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 865 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in the period during 1866 – 1870 to designs by Frederick Marrable (1819-1872). Marrable was the first appointed Chief Architect to the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1856; he was responsible for designing its headquarters and also The Garrick Club in 1864.
In 1890 Arthur Blomfield added an octagonal belfry to the upper portion of the tower.
Earlier this year the church was extensively reordered. A new platform was installed at the east end, a new floor was laid throughout the nave, all pews were removed and toilet and kitchen facilities were provided underneath the gallery at the west end.
Exterior Description
The style is Decorated, with the majority of the windows in a geometric style.
The show side of the building is the west end and here the tower is positioned centrally with flanking gabled vestibules on either side creating a symmetrical front. At ground level there are three brightly painted red doorways, all under pointed arches, with the central one slightly larger and having an additional shallow projecting gable over it. Running across the elevation and behind the central door gable is a thin band of blind arcading.
The tower door is flanked by buttresses, each with a gablet front, rising to either side of the main west window and finishing with an offset. The west window of the tower is a set of three lancets with two lights in the central taller lancet and one light to either side. The lights are cusped with geometrical tracery above. The vestibule gables each have, at the same level as the west window, a large roundel with three smaller roundels set within a short pointed arch creating a triangular opening.
At the next stage there are two small slit openings and a clock face. The highest stages of the tower are the work of Blomfield and he constructed a crenellated octagonal section with two light louvred openings in four faces and small buttress arrangements with triple gablets on the alternating other four faces.
The nave is of three bays with shallow leaning aisle roofs. The buttresses start with the aisles, rising and spanning the roofs before terminating against the nave wall with a total of three offsets. The nave windows are of three equal lights and geometrical tracery above under pointed arches. The aisle windows are sets of three stepped, cusped lancets.
The transepts to the north and south are the equivalent of two further bays to the nave. Each has a doorway facing west. The main elevations have a series of five lights at low level each individual cusped lancets with a trefoil overhead. Above these openings are three more windows, spaced more widely, with two lights each and tracery under pointed arches.
The chancel apse has four external openings. Three centrally placed at the east end and a further on the south side. All are of two equal lights with geometrical tracery under a tall pointed lancet. Between the transept and the chancel on the south side there is a small organ chamber which has a leaning roof just under the height of the chancel eaves.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The five windows of the apse and the north window of the north chancel chapel have excellent glass by Clayton and Bell
Stained Glass
Those in the upper south aisle and upper north aisle are also probably Clayton & Bell.
Stained Glass
One of the lower windows on the south aisle is signed Pepper & Bates London.
Stained Glass
20th Century
The west window is 20th century in date and of good quality.
Building Materials
Ragstone
Walls built with random ragstone rubble masonry
Slate
Roof
Interior
Interior Description
The interior shows flair from the architect, which is unexpected from the external fabric. Stock brick has been used with red brick dressings to good effect and in the chancel more elaborately to create polychrome decoration. The nave is very wide with low narrow aisles which are little more than ambulatory. The arcade to the aisles is of wide segmental arches and this continues with a similar triplicate of arches underneath the gallery albeit the central one wider. A further triplicate arcade of pointed arches divides the gallery overhead. The central arch is slightly higher and from the east the arches frame the windows in the west wall to good effect.
The width of the nave is spanned by transverse roof arches which are supported on marble columns and corbels starting just above the aisle arcade.
The transepts are wide and marked by pointed arches which reach to the height of the roof.
The chancel arch is tall and pointed with smaller arches to either side; the south holding the organ pipework and the north open to the chancel with WWI memorials on the panelling.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Large oak table with arched legs.
Reredos
The lower wall of the apse is an intricate mosaic and tiling design creating a reredos. From left to right the figures depicted are: St Matthew, St John the Baptist, St Mark, St Peter, Christ and Ss Peter & Paul (central panel), St Paul, St Luke, St Stephen and St John.
Pulpit
1869
Large square stone pulpit with richly carved and gabled panels and short marble columns. The gift of E.G. & E.H. Jones. In memory of their beloved father and mother Easter 1869
Lectern
1869
Smaller version of the pulpit in similar design and materials. In memory of Lois A Mitchell Easter 1869.
Font (object)
1869
A large circular bowl of fine dark marble with shallow bowl and a short stem. Cross shaped stone plinth painted white. Given by Frederick Marrable in 1869. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 1869. Tester stored in the gallery, walnut wood 1925.
Organ (object)
1878
Rebuilt by Henry Willis & Sons in 1910 and 1953. Detached console with three manuals in light oak casing.
Rail
Plain hinged wooden rail, supported on scrolled brass stanchions.
Bells
Diameter: 25.13" Bell 2 of 5
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 49753 Tower ID: 17454 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Diameter: 26.75" Bell 3 of 5
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 49754 Tower ID: 17454 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Diameter: 27.5" Bell 4 of 5
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 49755 Tower ID: 17454 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Diameter: 29.38" Bell 5 of 5
Founded by Unidentified (blank)
Dove Bell ID: 49756 Tower ID: 17454 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 368 758
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | Yes |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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