Building record 2310/1/1 - Church of St. Peter

St Peter's Church is of early 14th century origins, but is mainly late 14th and 15th century date. It was built for the Greene family of Drayton House. The church was restored in 1869 and 1887. Built of squared, coursed limestone with an ashlar tower and lead roofs. The church consists of an aisled nave, chancel, north chapel, south transept and porch, and west tower.

Church. Early C14 origins, mainly late C14 and C15 for Greene family of Drayton House. Restored 1869 and 1887. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar tower and lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, north chapel, south transept and porch and west tower. South elevation of chancel of 2-window range of 4- light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred arch heads, transoms and panel tracery. Priest door below right window. 2-stage buttresses between windows. Shallow gabled roof with plain parapet and pinnacle at corner. East windows of chancel and north chapel are identical 5-light Perpendicular windows similar to those of south elevation. Shallow gabled parapets, above each window, with finials. North elevation of north chapel of 2-window range of 3-light Perpendicular windows similar to those of south elevation of chancel but each reduced by one light by the centre panel of wall. 2- and 3-stage buttresses between windows and at corners. Shallow castellated parapet, with pinnacles at corners. Sou h transept has 6-light Perpendicular south window with hollow reveals, segmental-arch head and castellated transoms. Similar 4-light west window and 4-light east window with central king mullion, transom and 4-petal flower tracery above each pair of lights. Shallow gabled roof and plain parapet with finial and pinnacles at corners. 2-bay south aisle with 2-light Perpendicular window, to right, with hollow reveals and 4-centred arch head. Similar 2-light west window. Lean-to roof with plain a hlar parapet. Shallow gabled porch in bay to left has finial and pinnacles. Roll-moulded outer doorway and early C14 moulded inner doorway with remains of Angel label stops. North aisle of 5 bays, 4-window range of 4-light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred arch heads, castellated transoms and tracery with mouchettes. North doorway in bay to far right has 2-centred arch head. Similar west window. Lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapets and pinnacle at corner. The north chapel breaks forward a d is attached to the east end of the north aisle. Nave clerestory of 4-window range of 3-light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred arch heads. Shallow gabled roof with plain ashlar parapets and finial. Fine late C15 west tower of 4 stages has set-back, 3-stage, angle buttresses to lower 3 stages. Upper stage has panelled pilasters at corners. Quatrefoil frieze around base plinth, similar frieze with diagonals between second and third stage. West door with 2-centred arch head and square surro nd with quatrefoils in the spandrels. 3-light west window, above, has hollow reveals and 2-centred arch head. Small square-head 2-light windows to south and west faces of third stage. 2-light bell-chamber openings to each face of upper stage have ogee-head hood moulds. Quatrefoil frieze above and castellated ashlar parapets with central gargoyles. Large panelled and crocketed pinnacles at corners linked by flying buttresses to octagonal lantern. Cardinal faces of lantern have 3-light Perpendi ular windows with 4-centred arch heads, transoms and intersecting tracery. Plain pilasters at each corner of lantern terminate as crocketed pinnacles. Castellated ashlar parapets. Central wrought-iron finial with compass points and weathervanes on all pinnacles. Sundial on south face of tower. 2 inscribed tablets attached to south aisle and porch, have bolection moulded pilasters. Interior: 4-bay nave arcade of double-chamfered arches with octagonal piers. Double-chamfered arches with octagon l responds to chancel and between north chapel, chancel and north aisle. Tall triple-chamfered tower arch with semi-circular responds. Perpendicular roof structure to north aisle has moulded cross beams and bosses; other roofs are mainly C19. Early C14 piscina and double sedilia to right of altar have crocketed gables with pinnacle between. Shallow tomb recess with cusping in north aisle. Perpendicular style stone screen across south transept. C15 bench ends in south aisle have fleur-de-lys and carved head poppy heads. Octagonal font. Monuments: Sir Rolf Greene died 1417 by Thomas Prentys and Robert Sutton, cost 40 pounds; pair of alabaster effigies on chest tomb in north chapel, with angels under canopies around the sides. Vaulted canopy above the head of each figure, base of shafts to support canopy over whole. Henry Green died 1467 and wife: chest tomb with panels and shields, in south transept with 2 brass effigies on lid. Edward Stafford, second Earl of Wiltshire, died 1499, al baster effigy on chest tomb with lozenge panels inside cusped squared panels in south transept. William, infant son of first Earl of Peterborough, died 1625, plain tablet with detached columns supporting an entablature with a semi-circular device above, set between early C14 pinnacles, one with gable between, in north chapel. Roger Lane died 1690 and John Halford died 1690, inscribed tablets in chancel floor. Lady Mary Mordaunt, Duchess of Norfolk died 1705. Semi-reclining white marble figure on chest tomb with bolection-moulded pilasters. Sir John Germain died 1718, semi-reclining marble figure in armour, on chest tomb with 3 smaller semi-reclining figures. Lady Elizabeth Germain died 1760, inscribed brass tablet. Last 3 monuments in north chapel. Charles Sackville, fifth Duke of Dorset died 1843, white marble chest-tomb by Westmacott Junior has draped mantle, shield and coronet with lifesize angel seated alongside. C19 tablets to Sackville family of Drayton House. Stained glass: north aisle windows have panels of reset glass c.1330-40 depicting 16 figures originally from a Jesse window, with the exception of a kneeling figure. Centre bands of south chancel windows also have medieval glass. 6 windows with C19 stained glass in north and south aisles and chancel. 2 hatchments in south transepts and painted Royal arms above chancel arch. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.297; V.C.H.: Northamptonshire, Vol.3, p.231).

{5} Undated photo.

{8} An alabaster standing angel with shield - A Chellaston shop pattern. A tomb of Ralph and Katherine Greene (1418), is an alabaster tomb with examples of the workings of a prosperous shop of the midlands. Upon the tomb lie the effigies of the interned. Around the four walls of the chest, stand 18 angles each within its own niche or tabernacle. [See this reference for a full inventory and description of the angles, illustrated].

{9} Lowick Church was almost entirely rebuilt in the 14thc., but has some work of the 13thc and a fine 15thc tower. There were restorations in 1869 and 1887.
A chantry chapel (of St Mary) was extant in the parish church in 1317, and mentioned in 1584-5. Another chantry was founded in 1498; it had two chaplains with a Chantry House in the village. It passed to the king in 1546.

{13} Sketches, notes, pamphlet, engraving of stained glass window, painting of chancel, rubbings of medallions depicting St Matthew, St Mark, St Like, St John;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3+13/106 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 40 p.70-71 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<4> MARKS R., The Medieval Stained Glass of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109366.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Lowick (Photographs). SNN112775.

<6> Bloxham M.H., 1878, On The Medieval Sepulchral Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.249-52+54-55+57-8 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN107097.

<7> Lee M., 2004, Henry Penn, Bellfounder, 1685-1729, p.41-53 (unchecked) (Article). SNN109357.

<8> Ryde, C, 1977, An Alabaster Standing Angel with Shield at Lowick- A Chellaston Shop Pattern (Article). SNN113436.

<9> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 240-3 (Series). SNN100370.

<10> Historic England, St Peter's Church, Lowick, BF044018 (Archive). SNN115134.

<11> Historic England, St Peter's Church, Lowick (Archive). SNN115135.

<12> Historic England, Undated, England's Landscapes, BF110930 (Archive). SNN114508.

<13> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/1-3,5-8 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 1:23PM