St Peter's Church, Maidstone is a redundant Anglican church in Maidstone, Kent, England.[1] It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
| St Peter's Church, Maidstone | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Kent | |
| 51°16′22″N 0°30′58″E / 51.27276°N 0.51601°E | |
| Location | Maidstone, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 30 July 1951[1] |
| Completed | 13th century[1] |
Building edit
St Peter's Church is located between the River Medway, and the Medway Valley line.
The exterior is in a simple, Early English style.[1]
History edit
The building started life as the chapel for a hospital (dedicated to SS Peter and Paul called the Newark of Maidstone) for pilgrims crossing the river, travelling to Canterbury. It was founded by Boniface, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1260. In 1395, the hospital was merged with the new foundation of All Saints, Maidstone. The chapel became redundant after the Reformation and was sold to Lord Cobham, the chapel then had various secular uses. It was restored and enlarged in 1836-7 by John Whichcord Sr., was consecrated in 1839, and gained its own parish in 1840.[1][2]
The church was restored in 1905, when the north vestry complex was built.[1]
St Michael and All Angels Church, was built to serve Maidstone's rapidly expanding suburbs on the western side of the River Medway after St. Peter's Church was proving to be far too small. St. Peter's Church was also a long way from where the new districts of Westborough and Fant were being built.[3]
It was restored again in 1951.[1]
The building was converted for secular use in the early 21st century,[1] and is currently used as nursery.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "FORMER CHURCH OF ST PETER, Non Civil Parish - 1086281 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ "History". St Michael and All Angels. Archived from the original on 2022-12-25. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ "St Michael And All Angels's Church, Maidstone , Kent". www.kentchurches.info. Archived from the original on 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ "The Nursery at St Peter's Maidstone". The Nursery at St Peter's Maidstone. Archived from the original on 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2022-12-26.