St Peter's Church is a
redundant Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
church in the village of
Offord D'Arcy
Offord D'Arcy is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Offord Cluny and Offord D'Arcy. It is north of St Neots and south-west of Huntingdon. Offord D'Arcy is in Huntingdonshire which is a non-metropolitan district of Cambridg ...
,
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and North ...
, England. It is recorded in the
National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
,
and is under the care of the
Churches Conservation Trust.
The church stands adjacent to the
East Coast Main Railway Line, overlooking the
River Great Ouse
The River Great Ouse () is a river in England, the longest of several British rivers called "Ouse". From Syresham in Northamptonshire, the Great Ouse flows through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk to drain into the Wa ...
.
History
The church dates from the
Norman era in the 12th century, when the
nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
,
chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse.
Ove ...
and north
aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of non-walking spaces on both sides. Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, certain types of buildings, such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, parl ...
were built.
[ The chancel was rebuilt at some time between 1250 and 1270. In 1320 the south aisle was added, followed by the west tower and spire in 1380. The spire was rebuilt in 1860, and repaired in 1990. The church continued to be the ]parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
of Offord D'Arcy until 1978, when its functions were taken over by All Saints' Church in the nearby village of Offord Cluny. Towards the time it was declared redundant, people had to take umbrellas into the church and the heating no longer worked.[ After it was taken over by the Redundant Churches Fund (the forerunner of the Churches Conservation Trust), the church was made weatherproof, and limited services were held in the summer months. Drama productions were mounted, and a candle-lit Christmas carol service was organised. In 2004 a three-day arts festival was held in the church.]
Architecture
Exterior
St Peter's church is constructed mainly of pebble
A pebble is a clast of rock with a particle size of based on the Udden-Wentworth scale of sedimentology. Pebbles are generally considered larger than granules ( in diameter) and smaller than cobbles ( in diameter). A rock made predominant ...
and freestone, with dressings of Barnack limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
. Its plan consists of a nave with a clerestory
In architecture, a clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey) is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both.
Historically, ''clerestory'' denoted an upper l ...
and north and south aisles, a chancel and a west tower. The tower is in three stages standing on a splayed plinth. Its parapet
A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...
is embattled
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (i.e., a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at interva ...
with gargoyle
In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls ...
s at the corners. It is surmounted by a tall broach spire
A broach spire is a type of spire (tall pyramidal structure), which usually sits atop a tower or turret of a church. It starts on a square base and is carried up to a tapering octagonal spire by means of triangular faces.
File:Leicester Cathedral ...
with two tiers of lucarne
In general architecture a lucarne is a term used to describe a dormer window. The original term french: lucarne refers to a dormer window, usually set into the middle of a roof although it can also apply to a façade lucarne, where the gable of th ...
s. On the west side of the tower is a three-light window dating from the late 14th century. In the top stage are two-light bell openings on each side. The clerestory contains four two-light windows on both sides. In the south wall of the south aisle are three two-light windows and a doorway dating from the 13th century. In both the north and south walls of the chancel are a 15th-century window and a 13th-century lancet window
A lancet window is a tall, narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural element are typical of Gothic church edifices of the earliest period. Lancet wi ...
. The east window dates from the late 15th century.[
]
Interior
The north arcade has three bays
A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a narr ...
dating from the 13th century, with round-headed arches carried on square piers Piers may refer to:
* Pier, a raised structure over a body of water
* Pier (architecture), an architectural support
* Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name)
* Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...
. The south arcade is in four bays with pointed arches. At the east end of the south aisle is a 13th-century piscina, and in the south wall of the chancel is another piscina from the same century. The monuments include 14th-century slabs in the north aisle carved with male and female figures. In the south aisle is a monument to Richard Nailour who died in 1616. It consists of an alabaster kneeling figure, flanked by Doric Doric may refer to:
* Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece
** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians
* Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture
* Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode
* Doric dialect (Scotland)
* Doric ...
pilaster
In classical architecture
Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the ...
s under an entablature
An entablature (; nativization of Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and ...
with a segmental pediment
Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape.
Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds.
A pedimen ...
. Also in the church is part of a 14th-century screen.[ The two-]manual
Manual may refer to:
Instructions
* User guide
* Owner's manual
* Instruction manual (gaming)
* Online help
Other uses
* Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ
* Manual (band)
* Manual transmission
* Manual, a bicycle technique similar to ...
organ in the west gallery was built in 1913 by Blackett and Howden of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...
, but it is no longer usable. It is possible that the organ could be rebuilt at a cost in the order of £5,000. There is a ring
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
of three bells, but they are no longer ringable. The oldest was cast in 1618 by Tobias I Norris, the next in 1620 by William Haulsey, and the third in 1676 by Christopher Graye.
See also
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Offord D'Arcy, St Peter's Church
Grade I listed churches in Cambridgeshire
Church of England church buildings in Cambridgeshire
English churches with Norman architecture
English Gothic architecture in Cambridgeshire
Churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches in Huntingdonshire