St Peter's Church, Walpole St Peter
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{{Infobox church | name = St Peter's Church, Walpole| fullname = The Parish Church of Saint Peter| image = St Peter, Walpole St Peter, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 321024.jpg| imagesize = | imagealt = exterior of church| caption = St Peter's Church, Walpole, from the northeast| website = [http://walpolestpeterchurch.org/ http://walpolestpeterchurch.org/] | location = Walpole, Norfolk| country = England| denomination = Church of England | architectural type = Church| dedication = Saint Peter|}}
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St Peter's Church is an active Anglican parish church in Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, England. One of the largest churches in the county, it is known as "the Cathedral of the Fens". It is in the Diocese of Ely. The largely Perpendicular building is Grade 1 listed, and is often regarded as one of England's finest parish churches.Simon Knott, [http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/walpolestpeter/walpolestpeter.htm Walpole St Peter] at norfolkchurches.co.uk, Retrieved 12 September 2010Alec Clifton-Taylor, English Parish Churches as Works of Art, Batsford, 1974
History
The oldest section of the church is its tower, which dates from the 13th century. By the 15th century a church, 160 feet long, was added. The windows are in Perpendicular style. Some benches date from the 15th century. A carved poor box is dated 1639. A chandelier dates from 1701. Victorian restoration was restricted largely to the chancel.
St Peter's was used as the parish church of the fictional village of Fenchurch St Paul in the 1973 television dramatisation of Dorothy L Sayers's novel The Nine Tailors, starring Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter Wimsey.{{cite web|url=http://www.walpolestpeterchurch.org/history|title=History|website=Walpole St Peter's Church|access-date=16 August 2020}}
Reception
St Peter’s is known as “The Cathedral of the Fens, due to its size and renown”.{{cite web|url= https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/news/‘cathedral-fens’-awarded-£20000-grant|title=Cathedral of the Fens awarded £200,000 grant|publisher=National Churches Trust|access-date=30 January 2022}} It is said to be a favourite of Prince Charles,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-15006728|title=Prince Charles backs Walpole St Peter church appeal|website=BBC News|date=21 September 2011}} and John Betjeman described it as "the finest of all".{{cite book|last=Kerr|first=Nigel|title=Sir John Betjeman's guide to English parish churches|publisher=Harper Collins|date=1993|page=408}}
It was also listed as one of Songs of Praise's favourite churches in Britain.The Nation's Favourite Churches, Andrew Barr
See also
References
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External links
{{Commons category-inline|St Peter's, Walpole St Peter}}
- [http://www.ely.anglican.org/parishes/walpole-st-peter/ Official church website]
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{{Coord|52.7287|N|0.2230|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
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