Church of St. Peter, Great Cheverell

St. Peter’s Church, parts of which can be dated back to the beginning of the 13th century, although its origins probably date back to the early 12th century, stands at the west end of Church Road, and occupies the highest point in the village. The first recorded vicar was Philip Imere, who was in post in 1307, his name heading a list of incumbents which can be found hanging in the nave close to the church entrance. In the early years the church would have been served by a visiting priest from Warminster College.

The original dedication was to St. Peter and St. Paul, but by 1705, it was dedicated to just St. Peter. On St. Peter’s day, 29th June, a village feast or revel was held, replaced nowadays by a flower festival, garden party or similar.

The construction of the church is a nave with a north chapel, a south porch and a west tower. The vestry is sandwiched between the chancel and the north chapel.

The construction of the chancel with flint and greensand boulders might suggest a possible 11th century origin, however, the north and south facing lancet windows in the chapel, the south priest’s door and recessed tomb would suggest early 13th century.

Over the years the church has undergone a number of modifications and repairs. The three light east window was added in the 14th century as well as the tower arch. The tower was rebuilt using old random stone in the following century with the addition of a south-east staircase.

The Tropenell family, patrons from 1476 to1553, funded the extensive remodelling of the church.

The north chapel, called Townsend chapel, is named after James Townsend, a landowner and local man of business. A large white/gray marble monument is mounted on the wall of the chapel commemorating James, who died in 1730 aged 75 years, and his wife Katherine. The monument depicts him as “a man of great patience, sincere intentions, free from vice, a sure friend and a loss to the oppressed”. His will reflects his dedication to helping the people of the parish; it provided for clothing and educational charities and for loaves of bread for the poor in the winter. The chapel is finished with battlements similar to the tower.

In 1704 a gallery was added, complete with a ceiling painted with angels on a blue background, only to be removed in 1868 as part of a whole church restoration. The restoration project of 1868, undertaken by W.H. Woodman, also included the addition of the vestry, the heightening of walls, a rebuild of the eastern end of the church as well as a re-roof. In 1936, the church was reported as being in a sad state of repair, resulting in further restoration. Timbers were replaced to eliminate death watch beetle, a ringing chamber was created by erecting an oak screen at the west end of the nave, copper roofing was added to the chapel and a new heating system installed. The restoration was completed in 1952.

Stained glass windows commemorate both the Rev. E. Gunner (1865-1885) – the lancet windows in the chapel – and James Starky, a lieutenant in the Wiltshire Regiment who was killed in 1916 – the south window in the nave. The large east/south east windows were installed in 1909. The church tower houses a clock which is thought to date back to 1629 and the peal of bells. In 1553 the church had three bells but by 1700 this had been extended to 5 bells and a treble added in 1949 when all six bells were rehung on an iron frame to provide more strength. The church has always had a team of enthusiastic bell ringers and at one time this was the chief pastime of the younger men of the parish.

In 1930 the original limestone font of the 13th Century was recovered, restored and returned.

The rectory, now known as ‘The Old Rectory’, stands on the opposite side of Church Road, but has now been replaced by a modern house in Garston.

The Parish registers from 1653 (baptisms) and 1654 (marriages and burials), are held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham.