St Peter's Church, Hargrave

53°09′16″N 2°46′16″W / 53.1545°N 2.7710°W / 53.1545; -2.7710OS grid referenceSJ 485,622LocationHargrave, CheshireCountryEnglandDenominationAnglicanWebsitehttps://www.stpetershargrave.org.uk/HistoryStatusParish churchDedicationSaint PeterArchitectureFunctional statusActiveHeritage designationGrade II*Designated1 March 1967Architect(s)John DouglasArchitectural typeCombined chapel and schoolGroundbreaking1627Completed1890SpecificationsMaterialsAshlar red sandstone
Red tile roofAdministrationProvinceYorkDioceseChesterArchdeaconryChesterDeaneryMalpasParishSt Peter, HargraveClergyVicar(s)Revd Paul Beynon Barrow

St Peter's Church is in the village of Hargrave, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building,^[1] and an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Malpas.^[2]

History

The church was built in 1627 as a combined chapel and school by Thomas Moulson, a former native of the village. He had moved to London and become a master grocer. He was Member of Parliament for the City of London in 1628 and Lord Mayor of London in 1634. Shortly before his death in 1638, he set up a trust to maintain the church and the school.^[3] In 1812 its use as a school ended. As the state of the church had become neglected, a considerable restoration was carried out between 1878 and 1890, the first Duke of Westminster contributing £200 of the total cost of £600.^[4] This restoration, with the addition of a vestry, is attributed to John Douglas.^[5]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is built of ashlar red sandstone with a red tile roof. Its plan consists of a five-bay nave and chancel in one range, a vestry and a south porch.^[1] At the west end is a bell turret with one bell and a clock on the south and west faces. The windows are square-headed and transomed. The porch has Jacobean stone ornaments and a 1774 panel containing the coat of arms of the Moulson family and an inscription relating to the founding by Thomas.^[4]

Interior

The hammerbeam roof of 1774 survived the restoration, but all the old fittings and furniture were disposed of, except for the octagonal font. The parish registers begin in 1631.^[4] The reredos was designed by John Douglas.^[6]

External features

In the churchyard, south-east of the church, are two war graves of soldiers of World War I.^[7]

See also

• Listed buildings in Foulk Stapleford
• List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Historic England, "Church of St Peter, Foulk Stapleford (1130643)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 1 August 2012
2. ^ St Peter, Hargrave, Church of England, retrieved 2 January 2011
3. ^ Hargrave, Huxley & Hargrave Website, archived from the original on 16 September 2007, retrieved 9 September 2007
4. ^ ^{a b c} Richards 1947, pp. 178–180.
5. ^ Hubbard 1991, p. 260.
6. ^ Hubbard 1991, p. 278.
7. ^ HARGRAVE (ST. PETER) CHURCHYARD, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, retrieved 3 February 2013

• Hubbard, Edward (1991), The Work of John Douglas, London: The Victorian Society, ISBN 0-901657-16-6
• Richards, Raymond (1947), Old Cheshire Churches, London: Batsford