St Peter's Church, Bishopton Explained

St Peter's Church, Bishopton
Pushpin Map:County Durham
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Map Caption:Location in County Durham
Location:High Street, Bishopton,
County Durham
Country:England
Coordinates:54.5851°N -1.4364°W
Osgraw:NZ 365 212
Denomination:Anglican
Website:Stockton Country Parishes
Dedication:Saint Peter
Functional Status:Active
Heritage Designation:Grade II
Designated Date:27 January 1988
Style:Gothic, Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking:13th century (probable)
Completed Date:1847
Materials:Sandstone with some limestone, slate roofs
Parish:Bishopton
Deanery:Stockton
Archdeaconry:Auckland
Diocese:Durham
Vicar:Rev David Brooke
Curate:Rev Paul Clayton
Reader:Pam Russell
Warden:Freda Twizell, Margaret Tinkler
Parishadmin:Gwynn Dunn

St Peter's Church is in the village of Bishopton, County Durham, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Stockton, the archdeaconry of Auckland, and the diocese of Durham. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

History

The church dates probably from the 13th century. In 1846–47 it was largely rebuilt by the Lancaster architects Sharpe and Paley, who also added the north aisle and the tower.

Architecture

St Peter's is constructed in sandstone, with some limestone in the chancel, and has green slate roofs. Its plan consists of a three-bay nave with a north aisle and a tower at its west end, and a two-bay chancel with an organ chamber to its north. The tower is in three stages and has a west door, diagonal buttresses, and a polygonal stair turret at the southwest corner. On its west side is a clock face, and the top stage contains two-light bell openings. The tower is surmounted by a battlemented parapet. A fragment from a medieval grave-slab and a niche are incorporated in the west front of the tower. The west end of the church has a three-light window, and at the east end are three stepped lancet windows. The south wall of the church contains another medieval grave-slab, and a diamond-shaped sundial dated 1776. The interior of the church is plain and plastered. The font dates from the 13th century. The reredos is dated 1889 and is constructed from Caen stone and marble.

External features

In the churchyard is a grave headstone in sandstone dated 1786. At the top is a carved depiction of an angel's head with wings, and foliage. The headstone is listed at Grade II. Also listed at Grade II are the remains of a sandstone village cross dating from the medieval period.

See also