Diameter: 15" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1898
Dove Bell ID: 50984 Tower ID: 18326 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bideford East the Water: St Peter
Overview
Grid reference: SS 457 262
Built in 1890, St Peter’s is a Chapel-of-Ease to the parish church in Bideford. This building is compact and quite simple in design, typical of many modest late Victorian chapels-of-ease. The nave and chancel have separate pitched roofs; the latter is slightly lower in height and is three-sided at the east end with projecting gables.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
5-bay nave and 2-bay chancel, north vestries including organ chamber, south porch.
Dimensions:
Nave 21m (64ft) x 9.5mm (30ft), chancel 7m (22ft) x 5.8m (18ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 294 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Built in 1890, St Peter’s is a Chapel-of-Ease to the parish church in Bideford. There is a small church hall which was originally an air raid shelter during the Second World War, it now has basic kitchen facilities and a meeting room.
Exterior Description
This building is compact and quite simple in design, typical of many modest late Victorian chapels-of-ease. The nave and chancel have separate pitched roofs; the latter is slightly lower in height and is three-sided at the east end with projecting gables. The west end has a window of three stepped lancets with cusped heads, the gable surmounted by a small bell cupola with an iron cross finial. All the other gables have stone finials.
The nave windows are all of plate tracery with carved stops, between buttresses of two weatherings. The south wall of the nave has three windows of two lights, and there is a fourth (easternmost) which has been converted into a door leaving only the cusped heads of the lights and roundel showing. The north wall of the nave has three windows as on the south and two small vestries at either end of the nave, the eastern of which includes the small organ chamber.
The porch is set tightly between the two westernmost windows of the south wall. It has a steeply pitched gabled roof, pointed entances, angle buttresses and a row of three small lights on the west side.
The chancel has single lancets with cusped heads, one on the north and two on the south side and a further two on the east facets set beneath their own gables as previously mentioned; the east chancel wall is blind.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1893
West wall. Three light. Nunc Dimittis November 1893
Stained Glass
1902
North wall. Two light. The Roman Centurion and Jesus.
Stained Glass
1893
North wall. Two light. Jesus and Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection.
Stained Glass
North wall. Two light. Jesus and his disciples.
Stained Glass
North east of sanctuary single light. St John Cartooned by Arthur Anselm Orr and made by Arthur J Dix
Stained Glass
South east of sanctuary single light. St Peter. Likely to be by Arthur J Dix
Stained Glass
1891
South chancel single light.St Mary Magdalene by John Hardman & Co
Stained Glass
South wall (bottom half now a doorway) Remaining roundel with Alpha and Omega.
Stained Glass
South wall. Two light. The Annunciation.
Stained Glass
South wall. Two light. Three kings offering gifts to the baby Jesus.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is whitewashed (old photographs show Victorian texts and a decorative scheme in the chancel), quite dimly lit due to the presence of much stained glass in the windows. Those that are plain glazed are to be found in the chancel in the north wall and the westernmost openings of both the chancel and nave in the south wall. The stone surrounds of the windows and doorways are painted mustard yellow.
The roll-moulded pointed chancel arch springs from consoles with columns and large foliate carving on the capitals. Beyond the arch there is an iron screen separating the chancel and nave. The walls of the chancel are slightly curved to give the impression of an apse, and on the northern side the decorated display pipes of the organ show through a pointed arch, the detailing the same as the chancel arch.
The roof to the nave is open trussed, incorporating principal trusses with intermediate rafters resting on purlins, it is plastered and decorated between. The chancel roof has open painted trusses. All the trusses are carried down the walls to stone corbels.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1890
Large oak table
Reredos
1890
Wooden panel with IHS symbol and keys on the front
Pulpit
1890
Oak pulpit of Gothic design with open tracery work, quite short
Font (object)
Octagonal, of freestone with circular marble columns around a central stone column. Flat oak lid. In memory of Mrs Leonora Dulcie Arnold 1921-1985.
Organ (object)
1891
Pipe organ with pale yellow display pipes painted with a fleur de lys pattern.
Screen
1892
Chancel screen, scrolled wrought ironwork with leaves highlighted with gold paint
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SS 457 262
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 | No |
| 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
Submit a change
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