St Peter's Church, Northampton, Northamptonshire

Address:
Marefair, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1SR
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Key available from nearby Ibis Hotel, unless closed for private function. Please call 01223 324442 ahead of your visit.
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The most outstanding Norman church

St Peter's stands in a pretty grass churchyard in Northampton town centre, beside the buried remains of a Saxon palace. This 900-year-old Norman church is filled with glorious carved treasures. Inside, great Norman arches of plain and banded stone rise and flow with zig-zag waves.

They are supported by beautiful carved capitals, each overflowing with foliage, scrollwork, birds and beasts -- look for the man being swallowed by (or emerging from) a monster. These carvings were plastered over in the seventeenth century and were carefully unpicked with a bone knife in the early nineteenth century by local antiquarian Anne Elizabeth Baker, a labour of love lasting 11 years. Other highlights include a handsome brass lectern and carved wooden pews and monuments - including the bust of William Smith, the father of British geology.

Outside, strange half-human faces glare out from under the eaves, together with cruder, timeworn figures. There are other delights to be found include the fourteenth-century font, a twelfth-century grave slab with astonishingly clear relief carving and some fine Victorian stained glass.

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Comment

  • Access information
    Church is located in town centre. Access from street to church is via a paved path. There is one very small step into the porch.
  • Facilities & Hire
    Due to the historic nature of our buildings, only a very small number of them have heating, running water and toilet facilities.The lighting is usually operated via a 'push button' timer or a motion sensor.
  • Directions
    Northampton city centre location, south side of Marefair adjoining St. Peter's Way/Marefair junction. One way system.
  • Transport

    Nearest railway station:

    Northampton (0.2 miles); buses from town centre.

    Bus route numbers 3/5/6/9/9A/19/21/22/22A/30/50/96/D1/D2.

  • History & Further Information

    Useful information:

    Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church and the CCT before you visit?You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.

    Warwickshire & Northamptonshire County Guide 2012

    This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches CCT cares for in Warwickshire & Northamptonshire. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.

  • Community information

    Useful local links:

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