| Summary : The Church of St Peter dates back to the late 12th / early 13th century and has 14th century additions. It was almost entirely re-built in the 17th century (perhaps circa 1610) and considerably restored in circa 1870 by Lewis and Son of Newcastle-under-Lyme.The earlier parts of the church are built of sandstone and the later 19th century sections in ashlar. The church consists of a west tower, a nave and chancel (which share the same roof), a continuous north aisle, south porch, organ chamber and vestry.The church has close associations with Maer House, the ancestral home of the Wedgwood family, and was the setting for the wedding of Charles Darwin and his cousin Emma Wedgwood on 29th January 1839. |
More information : (SJ 7926 3834) St Peter's Church (NAT) (1)
Maer Church. The tower bears the date 1610. Fragments of incised sepulchral slabs are built in to the outer western wall. (2)
Maer. "The little church (St Peter), like several others in the neighbourhood, is mainly 17th century Gothic, but both chancel and nave were greatly modernised during a restoration of 1880. The only ancient feature is the inner south doorway, which retains its late Norman capitals and imposts. The total height of the tower is only 34 ft". (3-4)
Description as given by Auths 2 and 3. Still in use for public worship. (5)
No change. (6)
Church of St Peter
II*
Parish church. Partly late C12/early C13 fabric, with C14 additions, almost entirely re-built in C17 and thoroughly restored by Lewis and Son of Newcastle-under-Lyme c.1870. Coursed sandstone to earlier parts, ashlar to C19 work; late C19 plain tiled roofs with fishscale bands and ornamental cresting. Nave and chancel in one, west tower, continuous north aisle, south porch, organ chamber and vestry. Tower: probably mid-to-late C17 (see date 1670 on south belfry window) in Gothic Survival style. 2 stages on double-chamfered plinth; paired trefoil-headed openings under triangular and heart-shaped lights to belfry on north, south and west; west window in same style; below the belfry on the south is a blocked, chamfered rectangular opening; plain embattled parapet and corner pinnacles; wide stepped buttress at north-east angle. Nave: in 2 bays with chancel of one bay; fenestration all late C19; cusped 3-light windows under square heads to east of porch and a 4-light mullioned and transomed window, also with cupsed lights to west; East window of 3 cusped lights with elongated quatrefoils above. Gabled south porch: C17 with rather roughly-shaped round-headed outer arch and lancet opening above; the south door itself is transitional (c.1200), one order of shafts with an arch of one step and one slight chamfer, but most of the stonework has been replaced (probably c.1870). North aisle, organ chamber and vestry all under continuous catslide roof apparently late C19 (plain mullioned windows on north side), but the C17 window of 2 round arches under a square head in the west wall (which seems to be in situ) shows that the aisle must actually be a re-building (see also datestone 1614/1878 above window). Interior: tall, narrow pointed tower arch; north nave arcade of 2 pointed bays with a central octagonal pier probably C14; continuous arch-braced roof to nave and chancel in 5 1/2 bays (late C19); all the fittings and furnishings are also of late C19 or later date except the late C12 font, a round basin with circular moulded pedestal on chamfered octagonal plinth; C20 stained glass in north aisle by Shrigley and Hunt. Monument: in arched recess on north side of chancel; Sir John Bowyer (died 1604) and his wife, Catherine, chest tomb with 2 recumbent effigies and armorial shields to sides, moulded inscription band. B.O.E., Pp.200-1. (7)
For a full description of the church please refer to this source. (8)
National Grid Reference SJ7926638328 (centroid of the object) identified by digital ordnance survey mapping. (9)
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