"Journeying together to share our Christian faith"
In 1961 under the Incumbency of The Reverend T. Simper discussions were again re-opened and in 1965 Architects were appointed and after many meetings plans were approved and building commenced on the present site.
The Architects were Messrs Kenneth Nealan, Tanner and Partners and the Builders were Messrs Dudley Coles Long. On 27th June 1967 Oliver, Lord Bishop of Bristol laid the Foundation Stone and on 7tn December 1968 Leofric, Bishop of Malmesbury consecrated the Church. The first Priest-in-Charge was The Reverend T Simper and the first Church Wardens were Mr J Robbins and Mr R J H Garner.
The Church was built of brick re-constituted stone and a copper roof with a fibreglass spire. [Sadly, due to the leakages mentioned below, it became necessary to replace the copper of the roof with Redland Slate Tiles and the fibreglass spire with a plastic coated steel one.] It is six sided with no internal supports thus giving an un-interrupted view of the Altar and with no waste space. It has a Lady Chapel, Priest and Choir Vestries, two meeting rooms, toilets, kitchen and Church Wardens Office. The woodwork is American Ash and the metal work polystyrene cast aluminium. The bell, which is worked by electricity was given by All Saints Church, Clifton and was cast in 1866. This has a history. On delivery to the site it was stolen and before it was recovered it had been broken up and the pieces found in a scrap yard. The culprits responsible were sent to prison and made to pay the re-founding of the bell by instalments.
The cost of the Church was £70,000, which was met from the Bishop's Appeal for new Churches and War Damage claims for bombed churches. The Priest-in-Charge and Church Wardens provided the cost of the following from the Stent bequest.
| The Crucifix. | ||
| The Stations of the Cross windows (the only coloured glass in the Church). | ||
| The Candle Holders on the Altar and in the Lady Chapel. | ||
| The Sanctuary Lamp Holder in the Lady Chapel. | ||
| The Flower Bowls. | ||
| The Nicholson Organ, that was purpose built at a cost of £4850 as the re-built Organ before mentioned was considered unsuitable. |
The metal work and engraved glass was the work of Mr Frank Roper, A.R.C.A. A.R.B.S. The cost of the glass was met from War Damage claims for windows in bombed churches in the diocese, which had become redundant and not re-built. The cost of Stained glass was prohibitive hence all the windows are engraved clear glass with the exception of the Stations of the Cross in the Atrium (passage). The large window depicts the three lives of our Patron, St. Peter, i.e. Fisherman, Disciple and first Bishop of the Western Church. On each side of the entrance to the Church is depicted various objects connected with Christ's passion, i.e. Scourge, Cloak without seams, Dice etc. and that in the Lady Chapel is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin. In the Metal Screen between the Church and the Lady Chapel the first Christian Symbol is portrayed namely 'The Fish'. The Crucifix is of special note because not only does it fit into the general decor of the building but presents a realistic picture of the sacrifice and death on the Cross.
From the outset the Church had troubles. First, the spire, which was hailed as the discovery of the age, leaked badly and attempts are still continuing to rectify it. It has been taken off and re-assembled but the rain still comes through the roof. The large window let the rain through and to date the roof over the window and between it and the spire is also leaking.
The Church Wardens are still urging the architects to rectify the matter even to the removal of the Spire and roofing the hole. Other troubles were experienced. In 1969 owing to extreme wet during the building period large areas of floor blocks lifted, several walls had to be re-plastered because of cracking. The walls in both toilets became very mouldy, the cause of which has only recently been discovered. Several attempts were made to put it right without success until it was discovered that the plastering came down over the damp course. There was a last minute rush before the Consecration because the woodwork for the Choir Stalls had been destroyed in a fire in the Joiners factory and had to be replaced, and owing to the very damp conditions of the Church the building of the Organ was held up whilst heaters were installed to dry the place out. When the Consecration Service was held, only part of the Organ was working and the organ builder sat inside it right through the service to keep it going!
"The Church is recognised as one of the more distinguished Church buildings of the 20th century" vide Official Guide.
During the life of the Conventional District and the early days of the new Parish there were two periods in which we were without a Priest, i.e. on the departure of Mr Brain and Mr Simper on his departure to Australia. During these periods full services were maintained, Marriages, Funerals and Baptisms were arranged, Marriage notices were taken and Banns read and Registrar's returns made. Visiting the sick, newcomers visited and Architects and Builders dealt with. This was done by Church Wardens but mention should be made of the following for their Priestly assistance:-
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The Reverend John Gardener (formerly Rector of St Nicholas). |
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The Reverend Canon Hall, Rural Dean and Vicar of Corsham. |
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The Reverend Pat Wooster, Curate of St Andrew’s. |
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The Reverend M Canby, St Nicholas, Hardenhuish. |
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Mr Gordon Davies , Reader, St Peter’s. | ||
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Mr A E Gee, Reader, Corsham. |
Mr Canby, despite heart trouble, volunteered to over-see St Peter’s but unfortunately only took one Service before he was taken ill and died.
This page was last updated on 22 February 2007
