Description of the attraction
St. Peter's Church is a parish church in the village of Ardingley, Sussex, UK. The existing building dates back to the 14th century, but the church existed on this site much earlier.
The settlement of Ardingli dates back to Saxon times, and in the 11th century the Normans build a church on the hill. It is likely (but not yet documented) that a Saxon or Dosaxon church existed on this site. In the 7th century, after the conversion of the Saxons to Christianity, many of these wooden thatched churches were built. Little is known about the 11th century Norman church. By the 14th century, the wool trade was flourishing in Ardingli, and the inhabitants could afford to build a new church. It was built between 1330 and 1350, in the then dominant style of decorated Gothic, and almost nothing has survived from the original Norman church. A massive stone tower was added to the church at the beginning of the 15th century. Unusually, the tower does not have a spire, but this may be due to the fact that the tower served as a defensive function, or served as a signal tower. The tower is 15 meters high, square at the base, 3, 7 m by 3, 7 m, and the thickness of the walls reaches 1, 2 m. An oak staircase, preserved from the time of the tower construction, leads to the top. In the 18th century, two bells appeared on the tower.
The restoration of old churches was typical of the Victorian era, and some changes also affected the church of St. Peter. The old altar was moved to the tower, the benches were replaced, the pulpit and gallery were renewed. In 1853, the first organ appeared in the church. At the end of the 19th century, during restoration work and excavations, a column capital dated to the 12th century was discovered - this is all that remains of the Norman-built church, although perhaps some stone blocks in the southern wall are of the same origin. Fragments of medieval stained-glass windows have been preserved in some of the windows.
There is an old cemetery near the church, where you can find ancient and unusual gravestones.
