St Peter's Church | Withington

WITHINGTON
Dedication: St Peter
OS Grid Reference: SO 565 435
Road Reference: A4103

Facilities:

Gravel Path

Information:

Tues & Fridays 10am to 3pm

Withington and its manors are mentioned in the Domesday Book (1085–1087), the name being spelt “Widingtune”, and there was almost certainly a Saxon church on the site.

The tower, probably late C13th, is strengthened by its diagonal buttresses. The graceful octagonal stone spire was added in the 14th century.

The nave and chancel were originally built in the late 12th century, the evidence being the thickness of the walls and the two simple Norman nave doorways. (The north one is now blocked.)
The Chancel was later renewed, and is divided from the nave by a wooden tracery screen of the 15th c., in Perpendicular style, mounted on a stone base.

The font is probably Victorian, with marble columns and of Decorated character

In the chancel there is a brass tablet to William Saxeye (1612), a Chief Justice in Ireland under Queen Elizabeth 1.

The windows date from the 13th c. onwards, and show examples of Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles.
The stained glass in the three-light South window is by Ward & Hughes, 1892.

The steps and base of the Churchyard Cross are of the 14th or 15th c., and the lych gate (which has been restored) probably dates from the 16th c.

The Lychgate originally had only 3 posts and the beams supporting the roof were castellated.