St Peter's Church, Sandwich, Kent

Address:
Market Street, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9DA
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Opening hours are Monday to Sunday 10 - 4 pm. Tower Tours. Tickets are on sale in the church.
  • Learning about the Sandwich Curfew Bell inside the tower. Copyright Alan Duncan
  • Enjoying the view from St Peter's Church Sandwich. Copyright Alan Duncan
  • Overview
  • Map
  • What's nearby
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Get a unique perspective on England’s most complete medieval town!

Take a journey through the ages as you ascend the medieval tower of St Peter’s. The tower is now open to visitors, providing views across Sandwich. On a clear day, you might even catch a glimpse of France!

• Find local landmarks at the top of the tower, with our handheld guides
• Learn about the building’s 900 year history

Tower Tickets can be purchased on the door. Prices: £3.50 adults, £3.00 concessions & groups of over eight, £2.50 children, £10 family ticket (2 adults & 2 children).

The main body of St Peter's, which is free to enter, is spacious and airy with few furnishings allowing you to really appreciate the impressive size and proportions of the lofty interior. The medieval roofs, handsome decorated windows, and the magnificently carved tomb recesses and effigies to local benefactors reflect the wealth and importance of the town and its people.  To read more about the history of this site see the 'History & further information' tab below.

St. Peter's has been designated as a 'Community Hub' for the residents and visitors of the town. Many items are donated to the church, and the church is open every day for visitors to appreciate the church, and to purchase items to help the funds. Every year, the church costs over £5,500 to maintain in a safe condition for generations to come. There are different Community Activities held in the church every day - all designed to help people who need it, but also to ensure we can raise funds to cover the costs. Please check the notice board for local information.

Please support the church whenever and however you can. Thank you.

To donate by text, please text 'SSP' to 70970 to donate £5 and to 70191 to donate £10. Thank you.

Sandwich St Peter Guide

 

Sandwich St Peter Highlights

 

Audio tour of St. Peter's Church, Sandwich:

https://izi.travel/en/d49e-st-peters-church-sandwich/en

Find out more about Sandwich:

http://www.open-sandwich.co.uk/places_to_visit/churches/stpeters.htm

 

  • Access information
    St Peter's Church is located in town centre. Wheelchair access is possible into the church, although there are steps up to different areas within.
  • Facilities & Hire

    St. Peter's Church is designated as a 'Community Hub', and is used for the sale of donated items and books seven days a week.

    Various other community activities take place on different days of the week. Please check the notice board at the church exterior.

    Please note, due to the heritage nature of the building, some surfaces may be uneven underfoot.

  • Directions
    From parking behind the Guildhall in Sandwich town centre, follow 'Historic Church' signs on New Street, along No Name Street and into Market Street.
  • Transport

    Nearest railway station:

    Sandwich (0.3 mile).

    Bus route number 13, 13a, 14, 14a.

  • History & Further Information

    History of St Peter's Church

    St Peter's is the guardian of an ancient Sandwich tradition - the town's curfew bell. Every day at 8pm, the curfew bell rings out, signalling that the townspeople should cover their fires to make them safe for the night. This was once known as the 'pigbell', as it also informed people they could release their animals into the street.

    This old Cinque Port church (Cinque Ports were the five harbour towns on the south coast which in Medieval times provided the king with ships and men in exchange for trading and other privileges) is a local landmark.

    Much of today's building dates from 800 years ago, though it has been altered many times. The handsome tower with its distinctive onion dome top is a 17th-century addition - built by Flemish protestant refugees, in the style of their homeland churches.

    There was once a Norman church on the site and traces of masonry from this building can still be seen at the west end. The present church dates from the late 13th-/early 14th-centuries, when Sandwich was at the height of its prosperity.

    The atmospheric crypt - open by arrangement - was once a charnel house where bones from the graveyard were stored to make room for new graves.

    Inside, the church is spacious and airy with few furnishings allowing you to easily appreciate the impressive size and proportions of the lofty interior. The Medieval roofs, handsome decorated windows, and the magnificently carved tomb recesses and effigies to local benefactors reflect the wealth and importance of the town and its people.

    Guides

     

    Kent County Guide 2012

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

  • Volunteering Opportunities
    See more opportunities +

     

  • Community information

    Useful local links:

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