St Peter and St Paul's Church, Kettering

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St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Kettering
Sv. Pauliaus ir Sv. Povilo baznycia Keteringe.jpg
St Peter and St Paul’s Church in 2022
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St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Kettering
Location within Northamptonshire
52°23′48.64″N0°43′35.88″W / 52.3968444°N 0.7266333°W / 52.3968444; -0.7266333
Location Kettering, Northamptonshire
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication Peter and Paul
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade I listed [1]
Specifications
Spire height179 feet (55 metres)
Administration
Diocese Peterborough
Archdeaconry Oakham
Deanery Kettering
Parish Kettering [2]

St Peter and St Paul's Church is a Church of England parish church in Kettering, Northamptonshire. [3] It is a Grade I listed building. [1]

Contents

History

Little is known of the origins of the church, its first known priest becoming rector in 1219–20. The chancel is in the Early Decorated style of about 1300, the main fabric of the building being mostly Perpendicular, having been rebuilt in the mid 15th century. The crocketed spire reaches a height of 179 feet (55 metres). [4]

Whether the current building replaced an earlier church on the site is unknown. Two medieval wall paintings, one of two angels with feathered wings, and one of a now faded saint, can still be seen inside the church. [5]

Parish status

The church is in a joint parish with St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Kettering.

Organ

The organ was rebuilt by Kenneth Canter of Bury St Edmunds in a case of 1892/3 by Arthur Blomfield. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. [6]

Bells

The peal of 12 bells dates from 2004 and was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. [7]

Carvings

The statues of St Peter and St Paul above the North Door were carved by local author and publisher J. L. Carr to replace carvings destroyed in the Reformation. [8] A service of dedication was held for the carvings on Sunday 7 October 1984. [9]

Anecdotal Stories

During the war, fighter pilots would look out for the towering spire - higher than anything around, to navigate to the local airbase at Grafton Underwood. With nothing else even close to the height, it was seenas the ideal marker for pilots to aim for.


The church as illustrated in 1843 Architectural illustrations of Kettering Church, Northamptonshire (1843) (14778786531).jpg
The church as illustrated in 1843

References

  1. 1 2 Historic England. "Church of St Peter and St Paul (1051642)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "St Peter & St Paul, Kettering". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (1973). The Buildings of England. Northamptonshire. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN   978-0-14-071022-9.
  4. ↑ Flannery, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. New York City, New York, United States: Thames and Hudson. pp. 338–343. ISBN   978-0-500-34314-2.
  5. ↑ Greenall, R (2008). A History of Kettering. Phillimore & Co Ltd. p. 21. ISBN   1-86077-254-4.
  6. ↑ "NPOR [D00850]". National Pipe Organ Register . British Institute of Organ Studies . Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Kettering, Northants SS Peter & Paul". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers . Dovemaster. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  8. ↑ Byron Rogers (2003) The Last Englishman, The Life of J.L. Carr London: Aurum Press
  9. ↑ Kettering Evening Telegraph, Tuesday, 9 October 1984
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