St Peter, Weedon
Figure of St Peter inserted into the east window of the south aisle by Anthony Macrae, 1965.
The church of St Peter & St Paul at Weedon is separated from the village by the railway; many times I have seen it whizz by on my way down to London by train, and can even recall noticing it on my first ever such trip as an 8yr old. With that in mind it was thus good to finally get around to visiting Weedon church.
The tower unusually appears to be a complete Norman piece, even the belfry windows are unaltered, only the battlements and inserted west window and doorway are later. The rest of the building however is significantly more recent, the wide nave and aisles having been replaced in 1823 in the simplified Georgian Gothic of the period, whilst the chancel beyond is later still, Victorian work from 1863.
Inside the effect of the 19th century rebuilding is more dramatic, the nave and aisles being separated only by slender wooden columns with the aisles subsequently opened up giving a great emphasis on the width of the space. The chancel beyond by contrast appears narrow and more sober. The nave windows with their slim cast-iron tracery are mainly quarry-glazed with stained glass panels inserted at the centre. The overall effect is a highly unusual and memorable interior.
The church appears to be open now more frequently than it once was, the nice lady I met there told me she opens as often as she can though I'm not sure quite how regularly this is. I wasn't expecting to get inside (having heard it was usually locked and being close to 6pm) so was very pleasantly surprised to find the door open.
St Peter, Weedon
Figure of St Peter inserted into the east window of the south aisle by Anthony Macrae, 1965.
The church of St Peter & St Paul at Weedon is separated from the village by the railway; many times I have seen it whizz by on my way down to London by train, and can even recall noticing it on my first ever such trip as an 8yr old. With that in mind it was thus good to finally get around to visiting Weedon church.
The tower unusually appears to be a complete Norman piece, even the belfry windows are unaltered, only the battlements and inserted west window and doorway are later. The rest of the building however is significantly more recent, the wide nave and aisles having been replaced in 1823 in the simplified Georgian Gothic of the period, whilst the chancel beyond is later still, Victorian work from 1863.
Inside the effect of the 19th century rebuilding is more dramatic, the nave and aisles being separated only by slender wooden columns with the aisles subsequently opened up giving a great emphasis on the width of the space. The chancel beyond by contrast appears narrow and more sober. The nave windows with their slim cast-iron tracery are mainly quarry-glazed with stained glass panels inserted at the centre. The overall effect is a highly unusual and memorable interior.
The church appears to be open now more frequently than it once was, the nice lady I met there told me she opens as often as she can though I'm not sure quite how regularly this is. I wasn't expecting to get inside (having heard it was usually locked and being close to 6pm) so was very pleasantly surprised to find the door open.