Diameter: 40.25" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Robert Wells (generic) 1792
Dove Bell ID: 63764 Tower ID: 25504 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
St Peter’s College Chapel
Overview
Grid reference: SP 511 62
The church of St Peter-le-Bailey was constructed 1872-74, and consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford in 1874. The church replaced a previous church (1728) on the corner of New Inn Hall Street and Queen Street. The church and its property were used for the foundation of St Peter’s Hall (later to become St Peter’s College) in 1928, and from then on its principal function has been as a hall/college chapel.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 557 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church of St Peter-le-Bailey was designed by Basil Champneys (later awarded RIBA Gold Medal in 1912), constructed 1872-74, and consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford in 1874. The church replaced a previous church (1728) on the corner of New Inn Hall Street and Queen Street which was demolished for road widening in 1874.
The church and its property were used for the foundation of St Peter’s Hall (later to become St Peter’s College) in 1928, and from then on its principal function has been as a hall/college chapel. The church remained parochial until 1961.
Exterior Description
The style of the church is generally English 14th century. A three stage tower sits in the angle between the south chancel and east end of the south nave aisle. The whole church is built of Bath Box Ground stone and contains many ashlars of Oxford stone from the earlier 1728 church.
Originally, the principal entrance was through a double-arched south door whose outline can still be seen on the south wall. In 1928, the south door was filled in as part of F. E. Howard’s refurbishments to turn the church into the Hall chapel. Other alterations included a new, finely moulded arched doorway through the east side of the base of the tower which became the public entrance to the church.
A new pair of doors in the north wall of the chapel, in the second bay from the west, were installed during 2015/16 as part of an overall scheme to improve the accessibility and connection of the chapel to the college.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
19th Century Three stage tower in angle between south chancel and east end of south nave aisle
Building Materials
Bath Stone
Bath Box Ground stone
Interior
Interior Description
English 14th century, using details like carved corbels and rich mouldings to decorate a simple, clear series of well-lit spaces. The four-bay aisled nave leads to a chancel with a two-bay north aisle containing the organ, by Henry Willis (1875), and vestry.
Built hard up to boundaries on the north and west side, there are no nave aisle windows but instead large clerestorey windows.
The interior was altered as part of the 1928 refurbishment. Of Basil Champney’s original furnishings, only the simple nave aisle pews (of pine), and the choir stalls with traceried front and tapering ends survive. The aisle pews are not of the quality of the remaining choir stalls. The reredos (1928) behind the High Altar, pulpit (1931) and canopied rear choir stalls (1935) are all memorials designed by F. E. Howard.
Also includes some items from the previous parish church such as brasses and memorial plauqes.
The aforementioned reredos and pulpit were installed in memory of, respectively, Edith Chavasse, and her husband, Francis J Chavasse, rector of St Peter-le-Bailey (1878-1889) and bishop of Liverpool (1900-1923). The east window (1964), designed by John Hayward, is a memorial to their son, Christopher Chavasse, the founding Master of St Peter’s (1929-1939). His pastoral staff as Bishop of Rochester (1940-1960) can be found to the north side of the High Altar.
Further Chavasse memorials can be found on the north wall. These include a tablet in memory of Francis Bernard Chavasse (1889-1941); a large plaster cast of 1932 from the front of Francis Chavasse’s memorial in Liverpool Cathedral; and the wooden grave cross of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC and Bar, MC, the identical twin brother of Christopher Chavasse and the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during World War I.
The grave cross is an artefact of historical significance. Few such grave markers have survived from World War I. It is now flanked by two museum-quality display cases, unveiled in November 2016, which contain the various decorations won by members of the Chavasse family in military and civilian life, including 21 medals awarded during World War I.
Besides the stained glass mentioned above, the south wall features a window designed by the Hungarian artist, Ervin Bossányi (1891-1975).
Fixtures and fittings
Organ (component)
1875 by henry Willis
Reredos
1928 behind the High Altar - memorial designed by F.E. Howard
Pulpit
1931 memorial designed by F.E. Howard
Choir
1935 Choir stalls memorials designed by F.E. Howard
Stained Glass (window)
1964 Designed by John Hayward Memorial to Christopher Chavasse (founding Master of St Peter's 1929-1939)
Stained Glass (window)
20th Century South wall window designed by Hungarian artist Ervin Bossanyi
Cross
20th Century Wooden grave cross of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC and Bar, MC Only man to be awarded Victoria Cross twice during WWI artefact of historical significance, few survive from WWI
Bells
Diameter: 16.75" Bell 2 of 2
Dove Bell ID: 63765 Tower ID: 25504 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Pine pews in nave aisle surviving furnishing from original Champney interior
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 511 62
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.
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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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