Church of St Peter, Paglesham (EHER 35028)

A mainly 15th century parish church, with some 12th century work in the chancel and nave. There is a 16th century west tower, 1883 restorations and a 19th century south porch and north vestry. It is built from stone, flint and septaria, with some Roman brick, and the building has red plain tiled roofs.

July 1959. Grade II* listed. A mainly 15th century parish church, with some 12th century work in the chancel and nave. There is a 16th century west tower, 1883 restorations and a 19th century south porch and north vestry. It is built from stone, flint and septaria, with some Roman brick, and the building has red plain tiled roofs. <1> See photos <2>. The church and adjoining manor of Church Hall were granted to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster by Ingulf in 1066, remaining in their hands until the Dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. The church is built of stone, flint and septaria, with some roman brick. The current structure is largely fifteenth century in date, although there are some twelfth century elements in the chancel and nave. The west tower was added in the 16th century. Major restoration of the church took place in 1883, including the complete re-building of the chancel, raising the nave walls and re-roofing of the nave and the construction of a new porch, organ-chamber and vestry. In 1969 the great West Doors of Westminster Abbey were hung inside the tower arch. <3> There was probably a Norman predecessor to the present church. The Nave was rebuilt in the 15th century with the exception of a few ft of the eastern end of the north and south walls. The inserted windows are perpendicular. The tower was added in the 15th century and has an embattled parapet and staircase turret. Beneath the 3-light west window is the west doorway with its original medieval door. There were three bells in the belfry one cast by John Dier in 1598 the second by Charles Newman in 1693 and the third (the only survivor) cast by travelling bellfounder John Wyatt in 1706. The church was greatly restored during the 19th century; the windows of the south side were replaced and a south porch and a vestry added. During this work traces of early wall paintings were uncovered but were covered over again. The restoration was carried out in 1883 at a cost of £1, 482. The octagonal font is 19th century and was donated by rev. C.A. Belli (rector 1827-1860 and precentor of St Pauls Cathedral). The oak chest, used as a parish strong box, is believed to originate from Milan and is said to contain timbers of the 13th century. In the floor there are some fine 17th and 18th century headstones relocated from the church yard and displaying carving with skull and crossbones, cherubs or other motifs. The glass of the east window is a memorial to George F Browning and the small window in the south chancel wall is by William Glasby and in memory of Z and A Pettit. A small piece of Norman masonry is re-used as a piscina. <4> The mainly 12th to 15th century fabric of the parish church contains some Roman brick. <5> - <8> A mainly 15th century church with some work of the 12th century in the chancel and nave, 16th century west tower and restorations of around 1883. The porch and north vestry were built in the 19th century. Constructed of stone, flint and septaria with some Roman brick red tiled roof. 15th century features include the east window of the chancel and a nailed plank door with strap hinges in the west tower. The south door is 15th-16th century. There are two 16th century windows in the south wall of the chancel and between the two a possibly 16th century doorway. Late 19th century porch and north vestry. Two small round headed 18th century windows in the north wall of the chancel; two 19th century windows in the nave. 19th century double side purlin roof. 19th century stained glass in windows. There are eight 17th and 18th century headstones from the churchyard set in the chancel floor and eight 18th and 19th century headstones set in the floor of the nave. The octagonal font is of 19th century date. <7> The chancel arch was probably built in the 15th century with reused material; the lower parts of the responds are of 13th century date. The nave was mostly rebuilt in the 15th century but a few feet of the lower part of the east end of the north and south walls are of 12th century date. The early 16th century doorway opens onto a modern vestry. The west tower, of three stages, was built in the early 16th century. There is an early 16th century door in the south doorway of ridged battens with hollow chamfered ribs planted on, strap hinges and a lock plate. Two 15th century doors in the tower. Fittings include a piscina of around 1150 in the chancel and one of the 15th century, partly mutilated, in the south wall of the nave; a large fragment of coffin lid carved with part of the stem of a raised cross, possibly 13th century and a large chest of oak made up of 13th century and later fragments. There are masons marks in the dressings of the north and south doorways of the nave and in the tower on dressings to the tower arch and west doorway. Church extensively repaired and chancel walls refaced in 1883. There are three bells of 1598, 1693 and probably early 18th century. Furniture and fittings include two late 17th century elaborately carved oak chairs. <8> 'Nave and chancel are Norman. On the north side three original windows remain, though they are much restored'. <9> See aerial photograph. <10> NRHE data transfer: St Peter's Church (CofE) [NAT]. <11> See also <12>.