Church of St. Peter, Clyffe Pypard
The Church of St. Peter stands beneath the steep wooded escarpment in the heart of the old village of Clyffe Pypard. According to an engraving in the church ‘John de Cobham died in the ground here. He built this church’. He died in 1300 and the last remaining traces of original architecture echo the same period.
The church building is in ashlar stone and was built in the Perpendicular style. Considerably restored and rebuilt by William Butterfield between 1860 and 1874, the only remaining parts of the earlier church date from between the 13th and 15th centuries. The building consists of a chancel, nave, aisles, south porch, north and south chapels and a west tower. The south porch is thought to contain some stonework from the original church above the inner door. There is also a small alcove to the side which would have been used to store holy water. The Perpendicular west clock tower is embattled with the stair tower rising above the battlements. The staircase consists of 72 winding steps. The tower is believed to date from the 13th century and be part of the earlier building.
The church building is in ashlar stone and was built in the Perpendicular style. Considerably restored and rebuilt by William Butterfield between 1860 and 1874, the only remaining parts of the earlier church date from between the 13th and 15th centuries. The building consists of a chancel, nave, aisles, south porch, north and south chapels and a west tower. The south porch is thought to contain some stonework from the original church above the inner door. There is also a small alcove to the side which would have been used to store holy water. The Perpendicular west clock tower is embattled with the stair tower rising above the battlements. The staircase consists of 72 winding steps. The tower is believed to date from the 13th century and be part of the earlier building.
The chancel was re-built in an Early English design in 1860. Some distinctive ‘Butterfield’ characteristics are evident here including inlaid coloured geometrical motifs and different paint effects. The overall cost of this re-design was almost £700 and was paid for by the Rector Horatio Nelson Goddard. Some of the wood used for the renovation was from walnut trees which had fallen during a tornado in 1856.
The wagon-roofed nave has arch braced tie beams. There are slender octagonal piers within the five bay arcade. During the extensive renovation during the 19th century, new paintwork was applied to the original marbling which covered the piers and the arches.
The 15th century oak chancel screen, with carved tracery heads, extends as far as the east end of both the north and south aisles making them enclosed. The screen’s decoration of vine leaves and cresting were coloured and gilded during the 19th century restoration. The oak pulpit has been described as being ‘a good specimen of elaborate carving’. It dates from 1629. It was a gift from John Kingston who had married into the Goddard family (husband to Ann Goddard) and bears the words ‘Ex Dono Joanis Kingston gen Anno Dei 1629’. The pulpit includes a sounding board with a pierced iron lectern attached to it.
The wagon-roofed nave has arch braced tie beams. There are slender octagonal piers within the five bay arcade. During the extensive renovation during the 19th century, new paintwork was applied to the original marbling which covered the piers and the arches.
The 15th century oak chancel screen, with carved tracery heads, extends as far as the east end of both the north and south aisles making them enclosed. The screen’s decoration of vine leaves and cresting were coloured and gilded during the 19th century restoration. The oak pulpit has been described as being ‘a good specimen of elaborate carving’. It dates from 1629. It was a gift from John Kingston who had married into the Goddard family (husband to Ann Goddard) and bears the words ‘Ex Dono Joanis Kingston gen Anno Dei 1629’. The pulpit includes a sounding board with a pierced iron lectern attached to it.
The octagonal font is a Victorian reproduction. It was modelled in Bath stone in Over, Cambridgeshire, in 1840. It was an exact copy of the original 15th century font and was given by the Reverend Francis Goddard.
A wooden model of the church was preserved at the manor house; it was believed to have been built by the Reverend Francis Goddard before 1850.
In 1553, three bells were hanging in the tower but none of these remain. Nowadays, there is a peal of six bells, the oldest dating from 1604. The treble bell dates from 1825 and was funded by subscription by Reverend Edward Goddard and Rector James Wells of Aldbourne. The second and third bells were both acquired in 1825 as gifts from two churchwardens; Harry Hitchcock and Jacob Smith. Also, Rector James Wells of Aldbourne contributed. The fourth bell was cast at an unknown date and donated by John Hopkins and Roger Spackman, both churchwardens. The fifth bell is inscribed ‘G. Mears Founder London 1859’, it was paid for by local subscriptions. The tenor bell, weighing 642 kg was cast in 1604. It is inscribed ‘Prayse the Lord I.W.1604’ All the bells were repaired and presumably tuned in 1880; some chiming clappers were added in 1963. In 1969, the bells were left quiet for some time as the clock tower had deteriorated and was in a dangerous condition. The total cost for repair amounted to £100,000.
A wooden model of the church was preserved at the manor house; it was believed to have been built by the Reverend Francis Goddard before 1850.
In 1553, three bells were hanging in the tower but none of these remain. Nowadays, there is a peal of six bells, the oldest dating from 1604. The treble bell dates from 1825 and was funded by subscription by Reverend Edward Goddard and Rector James Wells of Aldbourne. The second and third bells were both acquired in 1825 as gifts from two churchwardens; Harry Hitchcock and Jacob Smith. Also, Rector James Wells of Aldbourne contributed. The fourth bell was cast at an unknown date and donated by John Hopkins and Roger Spackman, both churchwardens. The fifth bell is inscribed ‘G. Mears Founder London 1859’, it was paid for by local subscriptions. The tenor bell, weighing 642 kg was cast in 1604. It is inscribed ‘Prayse the Lord I.W.1604’ All the bells were repaired and presumably tuned in 1880; some chiming clappers were added in 1963. In 1969, the bells were left quiet for some time as the clock tower had deteriorated and was in a dangerous condition. The total cost for repair amounted to £100,000.
There are two chapels in the church; the north and the south aisles. The north chapel was dominated by the Goddard family and was made quite comfortable during the 19th century with carpets and a large divan. The south chapel was known as the Bupton Chapel, it had close association with the Quintin family who resided in Bupton.
There are several notable monuments in the Church of St.Peter. In the west end of the south aisle there is an elaborate life-size monument in white marble commemorating Thomas Spackman, a carpenter and native of Clyffe Pypard. He left the village and sought a fortune in London. The monument is a figure of a man stood on an urn. He appears to be teaching a boy and a girl at his feet where there lays a carpenter’s bag containing the tools of his trade. Thomas Spackman left a vast amount of money to the village in his will; he died in 1786. Included in the will were funds to keep the tomb in good condition.
At the eastern end of the north aisle lays the brass of a knight who is dressed in chain mail and lies cross legged. It is about four feet long and in poor condition (it was horribly mutilated by a carpenter in 1862 during the installation of a pew). The knight is thought to be Sir Henry de Cobham who died in 1365. He is the only knight ever recorded in Clyffe Pypard.
There are several notable monuments in the Church of St.Peter. In the west end of the south aisle there is an elaborate life-size monument in white marble commemorating Thomas Spackman, a carpenter and native of Clyffe Pypard. He left the village and sought a fortune in London. The monument is a figure of a man stood on an urn. He appears to be teaching a boy and a girl at his feet where there lays a carpenter’s bag containing the tools of his trade. Thomas Spackman left a vast amount of money to the village in his will; he died in 1786. Included in the will were funds to keep the tomb in good condition.
At the eastern end of the north aisle lays the brass of a knight who is dressed in chain mail and lies cross legged. It is about four feet long and in poor condition (it was horribly mutilated by a carpenter in 1862 during the installation of a pew). The knight is thought to be Sir Henry de Cobham who died in 1365. He is the only knight ever recorded in Clyffe Pypard.
The war memorial on the west wall was erected on the 17th March 1920. It bears the inscription, ‘For King and Country’ and lists the names of the many men who lost their lives during the First World War.
Other memorials are found within the stained glass windows. There are commemorative windows in honour of members of the Goddard family. These include both the Reverend Edward Goddard and his wife Annica Susan and also Horatio Nelson Goddard and his wife, Elizabeth Agnes and children. Other stained glass of note includes some which date from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Glass contained within windows in the north aisle was brought from various countries in Europe by J. E. Nightingale of Wilton.
The author and historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner and his wife, Lola, are buried in the graveyard of St. Peter. They had lived in the village for many years.
During the 1851 ‘Census Sunday’ the congregation numbered approximately 110. At this time there were regular week day services with between 10 and 15 attendees. The Sunday morning and evening services were more popular attracting around 30 worshippers.
The parish registers dating from 1576 (marriages and burials) and 1597 (baptisms), other than those in current use, are held at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham.
Other memorials are found within the stained glass windows. There are commemorative windows in honour of members of the Goddard family. These include both the Reverend Edward Goddard and his wife Annica Susan and also Horatio Nelson Goddard and his wife, Elizabeth Agnes and children. Other stained glass of note includes some which date from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Glass contained within windows in the north aisle was brought from various countries in Europe by J. E. Nightingale of Wilton.
The author and historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner and his wife, Lola, are buried in the graveyard of St. Peter. They had lived in the village for many years.
During the 1851 ‘Census Sunday’ the congregation numbered approximately 110. At this time there were regular week day services with between 10 and 15 attendees. The Sunday morning and evening services were more popular attracting around 30 worshippers.
The parish registers dating from 1576 (marriages and burials) and 1597 (baptisms), other than those in current use, are held at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham.