St Peter's Church, Shaftesbury

St Peter's is the oldest church in Shaftesbury, where there were eleven churches in mediaeval times. It was built at the top of Gold Hill as a pilgrim church outside the wall of the Benedictine Abbey. John Schip is the first known incumbent (1305). There is evidence of an earlier building on this site, confirmed by the recent discovery of ancient foundations under the nave floor.

Of the present structure, the lower part of the tower is the oldest; the Nave and its arcades are of the 14th century, the Clerestory was added in the 15th/16th centuries. The panelled oak roofs of the Nave and the North Aisle are also of the same date. When restoration took place the North Parapet could not be retained due to the poor state of the stone.

It is evident the town experienced great poverty in the 14th and 15th centuries, and St Peter's parish was the poorest of all. Taxes could not be maintained and the French war and then the Black Death of 1348 - 1357 which deprived the town of masons and depleted the population were major disasters. •Strangely enough, money seemed to be available at the beginning and end of each century; and to these periods are assigned the decorated and perpendicular styles of building in the church; cl300, c1400, cl500.

Entrance
The North door opens into a lobby, the walls of which have been skilfully constructed from an oak panelled reredos from Holy Trinity Church in Bimport, the former parish church of Shaftesbury. Above the roof of the lobby are some mediaeval beach ends.

The Tower
The lowest part of the tower is the oldest part of the church, dating from 1304. Its proportions are unusually wide and squat In the tower are six bells with the following inscriptions;

1. "A wonder great my eye I fix. where was but 3 you may see six". 1684 T.P.
2. "When I do ring, prepare to pray". RATE. 1670.
3 and 4. William Cocky of Frome. 1738.
5. "While thus we join in chearful sound, may love and loyalty abound". H. Oram. c warden. R. Wells Aldboume. fecit MDCCLXVI.
6. "When you hear for me to tolle, then pray to God to save the soul". Anno Domini 1672, TH/RW/CW/TP.

The bells are recognised as some of the best in Dorset. They were rehung in 1926.

Font
An interesting 15th century Font of Purbeck marble with an earlier base, can be seen, in the North Aisle. This was moved to its present position in the 1970s, when the church was renovated. Hutchins, the antiquarian, identified an engraving of a Font from Holy Trinity Church. This is thought to be the one now in St Peter's.

North Aisle
The ceiling was restored, and the windows reglazed also in the 1970s renovations. There are several niches on the North and East walls for the figures of saints, indicating the positions of previous chantry altars. Obits were recorded here, masses recited for the dead and alms distributed to the poor. At the east end, there is a brass relating to Stephen Payne Armiger, died 1509, son of Richard Payne, the last steward of the Abbey.

North Arcade
By the far west column there is a pit in the floor (press the switch on the plinth of the column to illuminate). You will see one of the oldest worked stones in Shaftesbury - now part of the arcade foundation - formerly from the shaft of a column in an earlier building on the site. Experts have expressed the opinion that it is not later than the 12th century, probably very much earlier.

Nave Chancel
There are four pointed arches on each side with perpendicular columns and rather crude capitals. The clerestory and the windows are of a later date. Look up and observe the oak-beamed, oak panelled roof. The 15th century East window contains some painted or stained glass, formerly in the North Aisle: -
1. Our Lady at a desk,
2. The emblem of the Trinity.
3. The five wounds.
4. Coat of arms of the Fitzjames family (Sir John Fitzjames was chief justice of the King's bench, who died in 1538).

On the East wall, the late 18th century Reredos thought to have come from Holy Trinity Church. As the Holy Trinity Church was rebuilt in 1842, it was probably in an earlier building on that site. Note the well-preserved gold lettering.
The Pulpit has been made from an earlier three-decker pulpit.

South Aisle
The South Aisle was originally similar in width and construction to the North Aisle. It was widened in the 18th or 19th century. The present roof of modem construction replaces the old one which was on the point of collapse-It was painted, and new mouldings fitted, in 1990. There was at one time a gallery along the South wall, used by the Blue-coat School boys. Panelling on the East wall has been reconstructed from panels from the old pulpit and others on the South wall.

The British Legion War Memorial from Holy Trinity has been adapted to fit in the South wall with panelling taken from the same church.

The platform in the South-west comer was constructed to support a pipe organ which has been built incorporating parts from the Holy Trinity organ.

The Organ - Notes provided by Organist, Barry Ferguson
This 3-manual and pedal instrument has been built and maintained by Deny Thompson, of Bridport It consists entirely of parts from several redundant organs of which the Case, Pedal Bourdon and its chest, and the keyboards came from Holy Trinity Church nearby, as well as nine ranks of pipes. The Swell organ soundboard and swell box came from St Augustine's, Bournemouth; the Oboe units from St Martin's, Bryanston, and the console shell from Lyme Regis Roman Catholic Church. The Choir Tremulant was a Christmas present in 1994 from an anonymous donor.

Deny Thompson continues to carry out subtle tonal adjustments and improvements. This fine instrument, like the church itself, is bright, clear and intimate in quality.

The Crypt
This was sold to the church authorities in 1907 for the sum of £50. Previously this was a cellar used by the Sun & Moon Inn next door, now a private house. The staircase leading to the Crypt chapel has been reconstructed to obtain headroom under the organ.

By the half-landing is a sealed doorway with Queen Anne's Coat of Arms above. It formerly connected the church to an earlier building on the site of the Sun & Moon Cottage in Gold Hill, probably a clergy house.

At the foot of the stairs is a squint.

Items in the Crypt:
The curved oak beam opposite the stairs is over a former fireplace in which the ale was probably brewed.
The big relieving arch spans a large mediaeval pit, some 10 ft across, which was excavated to a depth of several feet.
A similar, but smaller, pit was found here. (The floor of the Crypt has been reconstructed with reinforced concrete).
At the Eastern end of the Crypt, observe the indents near the ceiling which formerly took the joists of the old floor.

The visitor should now return to the area under the tower.

Commemorative Plaque
This records gratitude to those who were instrumental in the work of restoration.

West Door
Over the West door is a hatchment brought from Holy Trinity Church, and the Coat of Arms of George II.

West Porch
The West door was the main entrance until the Guildhall was erected alongside the church in 1827. The porch has a handsome fan vaulted ceiling of Tudor design, a holy water stoup and some oak gates dating from 1753.

Outside
After leaving by the North door, turn left to the nearby comer of the North Aisle;. look up and you will see the "Sleeping Monk", a legendary figure, possibly a holy water stoup.

The weather-vane on the Tower was erected by the Friends of St Peter's in 1975.

From a leaflet obtained in the church circa 2006.