Church of St Peter, Limpsfield

Last updated

Church of St Peter
St Peter, Limpsfield, Surrey - geograph.org.uk - 2015308.jpg
Surrey UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Church of St Peter
Coordinates: 51°15′39″N0°00′44″E / 51.2609°N 0.01231°E / 51.2609; 0.01231
LocationLimpsfield, Surrey
Denomination Church of England
Website https://www.stpeterslimpsfield.org/
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed building
Designated11 June 1958
Administration
Deanery Tandridge
Archdeaconry Reigate
Diocese Southwark

The Anglican Church of St Peter in Limpsfield, Surrey, England dates from the 12th century. It is a Grade I listed building. [1] It is known for the number of prominent musicians buried in the graveyard, including the composer Frederick Delius and orchestra conductor Sir Thomas Beecham.

Contents

History

The oldest parts of the church are the 12th century tower, and 16th century entrance porch. The church was substantially renovated in the 19th century.

The parish of Limpsfield and Titsey is part of the benefice of Limpsfield and Tatsfield within the Diocese of Southwark. [2]

Architecture

Constructed of ironstone rubble with stone dressings, it features a nave and two aisles, a chancel with chapel and vestry, [1] and the tower with a peel of six bells. [3] The nave has a Horsham slab roof, while the aisle roof is tiled. Buttresses support the gables at the west end of the church. The south west tower has tracery windows. [1]

The interior contains a piscina and a square font. There are also a range of memorial plaques and the chest tomb of John Elphinstone, 13th Lord Elphinstone. [1]

To commemorate the notable musicians associated with the church, St Peter's commissioned the last stained glass window produced by John David Hayward, who lived for many years in nearby Edenbridge, Kent. The window depicts Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. [4]

Notable burials

The composer Frederick Delius is buried in the churchyard, near his wife Jelka. Delius had wished to be buried in his own garden in Grez-sur-Loing, near Paris, but the French authorities would not allow it. Although an atheist, his alternative wish was to be buried "in some country churchyard in the south of England, where people could place wild flowers", and his wife chose the Church of St Peter, Limpsfield. [5]

The English orchestra conductor, Sir Thomas Beecham, a supporter of Delius, is buried nearby, as is the cellist Beatrice Harrison, who lived locally in Oxted, and who worked with both Delius and Beecham. [6] Later, the conductor Norman Del Mar (1919-1994), appointed by Beecham as assistant conductor at the RPO is also buried there. [7] More recently, the ashes of Jack Brymer (1915 - 2003), a leading English clarinettist are interred in the churchyard near the grave of Beecham, who had recruited him to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. [8] Local resident, Dr Eileen Joyce, (1908-1991) Australian concert pianist, is also buried in the churchyard. [9]

Related Research Articles

Thomas Beecham British conductor and impresario (1879–1961)

Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, CH was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras. From the early 20th century until his death, Beecham was a major influence on the musical life of Britain and, according to the BBC, was Britain's first international conductor.

Frederick Delius English composer (1862-1934)

Frederick Theodore Albert Delius, originally Fritz Delius, was an English composer. Born in Bradford in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family, he resisted attempts to recruit him to commerce. He was sent to Florida in the United States in 1884 to manage an orange plantation. He soon neglected his managerial duties and in 1886 returned to Europe.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra based in London

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British orchestra based in London.

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church in London, England

Holy Sepulchre London formerly and in some official uses Saint Sepulchre-without-Newgate is the largest Anglican parish church in the City of London. It stands on the north side of Holborn Viaduct across a crossroads from the Old Bailey, and its parish takes in Smithfield Market. During medieval times, the site lay outside ("without") the city wall, west of the Newgate.

Limpsfield Human settlement in England

Limpsfield is a village and civil parish in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs close to Oxted railway station and the A25. The composer Frederick Delius and orchestral conductor Sir Thomas Beecham are buried in the village churchyard and there are 89 listed buildings.

Jelka Rosen

Jelka Rosen was a German painter, best known as the wife of the English composer Frederick Delius.

Beatrice Harrison British cellist (1892–1965)

Beatrice Harrison was a British cellist active in the first half of the 20th century. She gave first performances of several important English works, especially those of Frederick Delius, and made the first or standard recordings of others, particularly the first recording of Elgar’s cello concerto in 1920 with the composer conducting.

Betty Humby Beecham, Lady Beecham was a British pianist. She married English conductor and impresario Sir Thomas Beecham in February 1943.

St Peters Church, Prestbury Church in Cheshire, England

St Peter's Church is the parish church of Prestbury, Cheshire, England. It is probably the fourth church on the site. The third, the Norman Chapel, stands in the churchyard. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The Norman Chapel, the lychgate and west wall, the Hearse House, and the sundial in the churchyard are listed at Grade II. It is a Church of England parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Macclesfield.

St Marys Church, Acton Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is an active Anglican parish church located in Monk's Lane, Acton, a village to the west of Nantwich, Cheshire, England. Since 1967 it has been designated a Grade I listed building. A church has been present on this site since before the time of the Domesday Survey. The tower is the oldest in Cheshire, although it had to be largely rebuilt after it fell in 1757. One unusual feature of the interior of the church is that the old stone seating around its sides has been retained. In the south aisle are some ancient carved stones dating back to the Norman era. The architectural historian Alec Clifton-Taylor includes the church in his list of 'best' English parish churches. In the churchyard is a tall 17th-century sundial. The church is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Nantwich. Its benefice is united with those of St David, Wettenhall, St Oswald, Worleston, and St Bartholomew, Church Minshull.

Sea Drift is among the larger-scale musical works by the composer Frederick Delius. Completed in 1903-1904 and first performed in 1906, it is a setting for baritone, chorus and orchestra of words by Walt Whitman.

St Wilfrids Church, Melling Church in Lancashire, England

St Wilfrid's Church is in Main Street, Melling, Lancashire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is an active Anglican church in the united benefice of East Lonsdale, the deanery of Tunstall, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is combined with those of St Peter, Leck, St John the Baptist, Tunstall, St James the Less, Tatham, the Good Shepherd, Lowgill, and Holy Trinity, Wray.

St John the Baptists Church, Tunstall Church in Lancashire, England

St John the Baptist Church is located to the northeast of the village of Tunstall, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the united benefice of East Lonsdale, in the deanery of Tunstall, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. The benefice of East Lonsdale combines this church with St Peter, Leck, St Wilfrid, Melling, St James the Less, Tatham, The Good Shepherd, Lowgill, and Holy Trinity, Wray. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. Services are usually at 11:00 on 2nd & 4th Sundays, in rota with the sister church at Leck.

Old St Peter and St Pauls Church, Albury A former Anglican church in Surrey, England

Old St Peter and St Paul's Church is a former Anglican church near the village of Albury, Surrey, England in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The church stands in Albury Park, to the northwest of Albury Hall, and between the villages of Albury and Shere.

St Peters Church, Leck Church in Lancashire, England

St Peter's Church is in the village of Leck, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Tunstall, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with those of St Wilfrid, Melling, St John the Baptist, Tunstall, St James the Less, Tatham, the Good Shepherd, Lowgill, and Holy Trinity, Wray, to form the benefice of East Lonsdale. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

All Saints Church, Claverley Church in Shropshire, England

All Saints Church is in the village of Claverley, Shropshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Bridgnorth, the archdeaconry of Ludlow, and the diocese of Hereford. Its benefice is united with that of Holy Innocents, Tuck Hill. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

St Peters Church, Edensor Church in Edensor, England

St Peter's Church, Edensor, is a Grade I listed church in Edensor, Derbyshire. St Peter's is the closest parish church in the Church of England to Chatsworth House, home of the Dukes of Devonshire, most of whom are buried in the churchyard. St Peter's is in a joint parish with St Anne's Church, Beeley.

May Harrison

May Harrison was an English violinist and the oldest of four sisters who were classical musicians in Great Britain during the early 20th century. Each had started out as child prodigies.

Margaret Harrison (violinist) British violinist (1899–1995)

Margaret Harrison (1899–1995) was an English violinist and the youngest of four sisters who were respected classical musicians in Great Britain during the early 20th century. Each had started out as child prodigies.

Monica Harrison English mezzo-soprano

Monica Harrison (1897–1983) was an English mezzo-soprano and the third-born of four sisters who were respected classical musicians in Great Britain during the early 20th century. Each had started out as child prodigies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "CHURCH OF ST PETER, Limpsfield - 1188814 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "St Peter's Church, Limpsfield". A Church Near You. Church of England. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "HISTORY OF ST PETER'S CHURCH". St Peter's Church. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "JOHN DAVID HAYWARD". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Carley, Lionel; Anderson, Robert; Payne, Anthony (2001), "Delius, Frederick", Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.49095 , retrieved 30 December 2021
  6. ↑ "Shennan, Robert Duncan James, (born 18 March 1962), Director of Radio and Music, BBC, since 2016", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.34637 , retrieved 30 December 2021
  7. ↑ Mar, Norman Del; Rudolf, Max (December 1981). "Wise Conductor". The Musical Times. 122 (1666): 823. doi:10.2307/961253. ISSN   0027-4666. JSTOR   961253.
  8. ↑ "CHURCHYARD". St Peter's Church. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "About the church - St Peter's Church, Limpsfield - A Church Near You". www.achurchnearyou.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.