Church of St Peter, Williton

The Anglican Church of St Peter in Williton in the English county of Somerset is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.[1]

Church of St Peter
LocationWilliton, Somerset, England
Coordinates51°07′05″N 3°24′54″W
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated22 May 1969[1]
Reference no.1174922
Location of Church of St Peter in Somerset

The earliest church on the site may have been the private chapel of a Saxon royal manor. In the 12th century Reginald Fitzurse was the Lord of the manor when he was one of the four knights who murdered Thomas Becket. It was then passed to his brother and the Knights Templar. The church was largely rebuilt in the 16th century and again in the 1850s as part of an extensive Victorian restoration.

For many years St Peter's was a chapel of ease of Church of St Decuman, Watchet until 1889 when it became a separate parish. The parish is now part of the benefice of Watchet and Williton within the archdeaconry of Taunton.[2]

History

The date of the origin of St Peter's Church in Bridge Street is uncertain but it may have started as the private chapel of a Saxon royal manor site.[3] The status of the Church changed dramatically in 1170 when The Lord of the manor, Sir Reginald Fitzurse, became one of the murderers of St Thomas a Becket.[4][5] Following the murder the ownership of part the manor passed to Reginald's brother Robert and the other part to the Knights Templar.[6] The historian John Collinson records that Robert rebuilt the chapel of Williton implying that the Saxon chapel was in ruins.[7] The Liber Albus manuscripts in Wells Cathedral library show Robert gave to the Church of St Decuman, Watchet some important property and certain rights in the chapel making St Peter's a daughter church of Watchet and became known as a chapel of ease.[8]

Current building
The nave

Some of the fabric of the current building is from the 16th century. Further work was undertaken in the 17th century when the church was known as All Saints.[9] In 1810 a south extension was built, although the Elizabethan windows were relocated and reused in the south wall. The church fell into a state if disrepair and in 1856 suffered a Victorian restoration under the architect Charles Edmund Giles.[1] The priest responsible for the rebuilding and restoration of 1856 to 1859,[10] Samuel Heathcote (at the Church 1854 to 1906), was appointed Perpetual curate but was signing the registers as Vicar from 21 November 1889 showing that Williton had become a parish separate from Watchet.[9] The church had a small spire until it was damaged during a storm after which the bells were housed until a wooden bellcote until a new stone one was built in 1896.[11]

The church is built of red sandstone with Bath stone dressings. It now has a four- bay nave with north and south aisles and a chancel with a barrel vault roof.[1]

Interior

The interior of the church includes a wooden board listing the names of 23 people from the parish who died in World War I and 13 in World War II.[12]

There is a piscina from the 15th century.[9] The alabaster font dates from 1666 and the poor box from 1680.[1]

Churchyard
Base of churchyard cross

Within the churchyard is a red sandstone base of a cross dating from the late 13th century. It is a Grade II* listed building and ancient monument.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. Historic England, "Church of St Peter, Williton (1174922)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 24 March 2015
  2. "St Peter, Williton". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. Gathercole, Clare. "An archaeological assessment of Williton" (PDF). English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. "A Short History of Williton". Williton Parish Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  5. Hunt, William (1889). "Fitzurse, Reginald" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 19. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  6. Waite, Vincent (1969). Portrait of the Quantocks. Robert Hale. p. 129. ISBN 0709111584.
  7. Collinson, John (1792). The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset. R. Cruttwell.
  8. Gathercole, Clare. "Williton". Somerset Urban Archaeological Surveys. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  9. "Williton". Quantock Online. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  10. "Williton". Local Williton Civil Parish Administration. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  11. R.W. Dunning (editor), A.P. Baggs, R.J.E. Bush, M.C. Siraut (1985). "Parishes: St. Decumans, including Watchet and Williton". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 5. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 4 March 2014.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. "Church of St Peter and churchyard, Williton". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  13. Historic England, "Remains of churchyard cross, about 15 metres North of North aisle door, Church of St Peter, Williton (1057462)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 24 March 2015
  14. "Remains of churchyard cross, about 15 metres North of North aisle door, Church of St Peter, Williton". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  • The full details of the church are recorded in Harry Armstrong's book The Parish of St Peter Williton (1982) published privately and printed by Langley Print of Taunton.
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