Building record 7198/1/1 - Church of St. Peter & St Paul

The north doorway and the east end of the chancel are of circa 1300 date, but the rest of the church is mainly of 15th century date. The southeast vestry was added in the 19th century. The church consists of a chancel, nave with clerestory, aisles, north and south chapels and north porch. Exceptionally fine west steeple.

{1} Spacious, mainly C15 church with exceptionally fine west steeple. Chancel, nave with clerestory, aisles, north and south chapels, north porch. C19 south east vestry. North doorway and east end of chancel circa 1300. Room above porch. Piscina, sedilia. North aisle. Wall painting of Saint Roch. Fragments of medieval stained glass in south chapel window. Brass with figures, 1630. VCH III pp 221-3

{2} North doorway and east end of chancel around 1300. Mainly 15th century church. Though south east vestry is 19th century.

{6} It is a substantial church with large north and south aisles as well as a clearstoreyed nave, and large chapels on either side of the chancel. Although the present building is largely the result of a substantial rebuilding in the mid to late 15th century there is significant early 14th century work which might indicate a church of similar size already existed at that time. The 15th century also saw the addition of an elaborate north porch facing the and an especially impressive, tall west tower and spire. In the 16th century there were three chapels, one probably in the east end of the south aisle, which may correspond to the three guilds. According to Bridges, writing in circa 1720, there was a chantry in the church and a priest supported in part by revenues from certain property in the town. Between 1587 and 1721 the churchyard was extended eastward as far as the main road, expanding over the parsonage property.

{6} The absence of a reference to a priest at Kettering in 1086 is not conclusive evidence that a church did not exist at that time, while the presence of several reused fragments of Norman and pre-conquest carving within the present building would indicate the presence of a late Saxon church. It was certainly in existence by 1125-7.

It is a substantial church with large north and south aisles as well as a clearstoreyed nave, and large chapels on either side of the chancel. Although the present building is largely the result of a substantial rebuilding in the mid to late 15th century there is significant early 14th century work which might indicate a church of similar size already existed at that time. The 15th century also saw the addition of an elaborate north porch facing the and an especially impressive, tall west tower and spire. In the 16th century there were three chapels, one probably in the east end of the south aisle, which may correspond to the three guilds. According to Bridges, writing in circa 1720, there was a chantry in the church and a priest supported in part by revenues from certain property in the town. Between 1587 and 1721 the churchyard was extended eastward as far as the main road, expanding over the parsonage property.

The evolution of the church may be an important mirror of the wealth of the town. It is not on quite the same scale as the Deanery church at Higham Ferrers and even in the 16th and 17th centuries the endowments are relatively modest compared to that which was seen, particularly at an earlier date, at Higham Ferrers. It was not until the 18th century and especially the 19th century that there was a dramatic increase in the scale and significance of the endowments in the town.

{13} Ground plan of 1893 by Arthur Blomfield & Son.

{15} The remaining medieval glass has been collected in a chancel south chapel window. It dates from the end of the C15 and early C16. Much more was recorded by antiquaries but it presumably disappeared during the extensive restoration of 1890-1.

{16} Sketches with measurements, notes, photo of old drawing;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1/17 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H15 p.12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.221-3 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<4> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<5> Eayre T., 1721, A Plan of the Town of Kettering in Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100753.

<5> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.221-24 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<6> Foard G.F., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Kettering (Medieval + Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100747.

<7> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.271-2 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<8> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, vol. 109 p.11 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<9> Kettering 1587, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100752.

<10> Eayre T., 1721, A Plan of the Town of Kettering in Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Map). SNN100753.

<11> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.242-46 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<12> Historic England, St Peter and St Paul's Church, Kettering, BF058265 (Archive). SNN114922.

<13> Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Building Society Archive, ICBS09374 (Digital archive). SNN115761.

<14> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<15> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 112-3 (Book). SNN101533.

<16> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/163/1-4 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 11:13AM