Welcome to St Peter’s Hersham

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	When Queen Victoria was crowned, Hersham’s population was 500—no Church, no Hall, School or Chapel… The railway came in 1838 bringing with it an increase in population and recognition of spiritual and educational needs; a Chapel of Ease, Holy Trinity, was built in 1839 and a School for Infants in1842. Parish status and population growth justified a new Church, St Peter’s, completed in 1887. The Church Foundation Stone was laid by H.R.H. The Duchess of Albany in 1886 and can be seen in the pillar behind the pulpit. The building, designed by Mr John L. Pearson, R.A., dedicated to St Peter in May 1887. Bath and Bargate Stone is used for the exterior and about 400,000 yellow bricks from Claygate were used for the interior with pillars and arches of Corsham Down Stone and Bath Free Stone. The pillars vary alternately on either side of the nave: one side octagonal, the other round. The wagon roof is of pitch pine; the Pews and Choir Stalls of Burmese Teak.

The seating area floor is wood block; the isles and crossings are Red Staffordshire Tiles with much of the West End, Nave Altar and Lady Chapel areas carpeted over. Above the North West corner main entrance archway is a tower carrying a steeple made of large pine timbers covered with Canadian Cedarwood shingles up to ninety– two feet topped by a copper cockerel weather vane. The upper tower contains a peal of eight bells above a ringing chamber, a gift of Mr F.L. Vaux, dedicated by the Bishop of Guildford on St. Peter’s Day 1901

As you come in to the church turn back to face the door; to your left you can see who was and who is and what is going on now. Turn left and you see the war memorials below the Great West window: to 117 who gave their lives in 1914-1918 and below the Book with names of men, women and children killed in action or raids in 1939-1945.
What Greater Gift...

The door in the South West corner of the church leads to the children’s corner and from there another door to the kitchen.

The stained glass windows on the South and North sides of the church mainly depict scenes from St. Peter’s life: the centre window on the North wall is a memorial to Rev. Broome Lake Witts, first incumbent, and his wife who survived to see the present church opened; he served Hersham’s people for nineteen years and the centre panel of the South Transept window showing St. Peter in a more modern style is a memorial to Rev. E. Russell Brittain who served as Vicar for twenty-seven years—1927-1954.
Most of the stained glass is the work of Messrs. Clayton and Bell.

The Lady Chapel, situated on the North East of the building, is now a flexible multi-use area for small group discussions, presentations prayer and contemplation; the Parish Memorial Book is kept there and the Paschal Candle. A light burns to indicate the reserved sacrament.

The music area has an organ and electronic piano and chairs for singers and other instrumentalists.

	Much has changed in the Chancel and Nave Altar areas, the work starting in 1906 with the plastering of the yellow brickwork, the new surface then being painted with a design on the theme of the Te Deum; a new alabaster reredos, elaborately carved on the same theme, a gift from Mr. F. L. Vaux, was placed above the altar; a wall of Purbeck Marble placed to support the screen and gate previously erected in1899 as a memorial to Colonel Terry, the donor of the land on which the Church stands. All the work was designed by Mr. F.L. Pearson, son of the architect of the Church. Since then, the Font has been moved to the East end as baptism is often in the main service, and a very high quality unstained oak Nave Altar has been placed on staging with surrounding communion rails.
We have a wonderful Church; a fitting place to love and serve the Lord.

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This page was last updated on 3 August 2004.