St Peter & St Paul, Peasmarsh, East Sussex - 13th March 2004 & 29th August 2004

A lovely church and a lovely setting.  The building was locked on our first visit, but open on our second, so an internal exploration was possible.

Between our visits some vandal had snapped all the finials from the top of the porch gates.

The most special feature of this church is the wonderful chancel arch.

The arch is constructed of iron sandstone and has unusual leopard like creatures carved into the stonework on each side - the contrast has been increased to make them more visible.

Here are the font and organ. The organ was built by Bishop and Starr in the 1860's, the gift of a parish in Southborough.  In 2004 it was in the process of being rebuilt by Clifford Foster of Rye, with the help of the villagers. The front of the case is a memorial to Viscount Devonport of The Place, and the sides of the organ case were formerly a Sussex oak reredos, behind the High Altar, given in memory of Arthur Rickards of Woodside.

Here are two views of the nave, looking east then west.

This, in my opinion, is the nicest window in the church, depicting St Catherine. The inscription reads "To the memory of Catherine Elizabeth Thomas died 25 May 1836". It is in the north wall of the chancel.

The east window.

The triptych, table of the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer over the chancel arch appear to be original and date from the reign of Elizabeth I.

This memorial, situated to the west of the tower, celebrates the millennium.

Finally, here is the view from the north of the building. The tower contains six bells. Four tenor bells, 9cwt, was cast by Joseph Hatch of Ulcombe in 1631. The treble was recast by John Taylor in 1883, and the tenor re-hung in 1961. Two trebles cast by Eisjbouts were added to make a ring of six in 1989, when the bells were re-hung in an Eyres and Smith steel frame, the work being undertaken by people of the village. There is a 1 cwt Sanctus bell.

Digital photographs

Visitors to this album since June 2003

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