Church History

Farmington Village - St Peter's Church History

History

St. Peter's, Farmington is a Norman church, built 1151-1170, consisting of nave and chancel, but the north wall of the nave was pierced and an aisle added within about 25 years. The tower and porch were added in the 14th century. The aisle was rebuilt and the vestry added in 1890.

Of the original Norman building, the chief features are:
1. The chancel arch
2. The doorway with diapered tympanum (the lintel appears to be earlier Saxon work).
3. A deeply splayed window (now blocked by the tower) above the later tower arch.
4. The corbel table at the top of the walls of both the nave and the chancel; on the north of the nave it is now inside the church, under the roof of the aisle. On the north of the chancel it has been compressed and some of the sculptured stones are in various positions in the wall, following its rebuilding when the vestry was added.

The original windows have been replaced by the present ones at various times. Those in the south wall of the chancel are good examples of "plate" tracery; near one of them the outline of an original Norman window (now blocked up) can be seen. Notice the curious tracery of the east window.

The date of the font is 1784, as shown by a note in the baptismal register in November of that year: "...the first at ye new font."

The oak pulpit is 18th century.

The oak communion rails are worthy of note, being the originals placed there in the 17th century.

There are 3 bells: the treble bears the names of the Church Wardens Edmund Barton and John Taylar, 1650. The second gives the name of the maker, Henry Neale, and the church wardens' initials E.F & R.S. (probably Edmund Fox & Robert Spensor) 1637. The tenor bell bears the inscription "Santa Nicholas ora pro nobis" - Saint Nicholas pray for us.

The clock faces of the tower are of stone and have the old-fashioned single hand. There is a stone sundial on the second stage of the tower.

There are 3 "scratch dials" - the best of them near one of the chancel windows.

Electric lighting was installed in 1930, but notice the old candle holders affixed to the pews.

The church was re-roofed for the Millennium.

Thoughts, by Daphne Dinnage

This sturdy little Church has stood in the centre of the village of Farmington since the Normans built it
and someone didn't quite get the zig-zags correct over the arch. Did he utter a Norman oath?

It was here during the pestilence of the Black Death, when the villagers moved from the south of the Church to the north.

Here, too, through the upheaval of change of allegiance from Pope to the King.

Here when Civil War swept this land and brother fought brother.

Here through the horror and carnage of the First World war,
when brave young men of the village were sent to fight and die, in the "War to End all Wars" !

Here when more brave young men and women from this place fought across the world for freedom in this land.
Those who made the supreme sacrifice are all remembered here.

Here through all the trials and tribulations, joys and celebrations of the people of this village.

Some born and bred to this lovely place, others of us are here because we chose to come.

Through all this long time the people of Farmington have cared for St. Peter's, or it would not stand so strong around us today. Let us, the people of Farmington in 2007, continue the care our forebears had for this lovely little church.

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