ST PETER'S CHURCH

Church Street, Woolley, Wakefield, WF4 2JU

Contact: Revd Canon Stephen Kelly

Tel: 01226 382550

Email: cme@wakefield.anglican.org

History

The date of the foundations is not known, but there may have been a wooden structure in Anglo Saxon times.  In 1158 there was a small stone church with a short chancel and an aisle-less nave.  In the 13^th century the chancel was enlarged.  A little later a narrow north aisle was added.  All that survives of this period is the pillar behind the pulpit.

In 1350 a new chapel was erected on the north side of the chancel.

A rebuild of the church was started in the late 15^th century, paid for largely by parishioners themselves.  The present tower was the first part of the new church.  Next came the widening of the nave and the north aisle and the north chapel, and then followed the widening of the south chancel aisle.

The church was re-ordered in 1871, giving us largely what we see today.  The chancel level was raised and new choir stalls and pulpit fitted, and a new five light east window.  The organ was placed in its present position.  A new collar-braced roof was built for the nave and chancel.  Seven new stained glass windows were donated.

Things to see

In the South Porch

The south porch dates from the 15^th century and contains the original timber roof.

The contemporary style gable-cross over the front of the porch was designed by Charles Gurrey, and installed as a Millennium project.  The cross is inverted, as St. Peter, our Patron Saint, was crucified upside down.  In front of the cross, the ‘key’ symbol of St. Peter is also shown.
The niche below the gable-cross has a relief sculpture, also by Charles Gurrey, depicting three fishes.  The fish, as well as being a further symbol of St. Peter – the fisher of men – was used from the earliest Christian times to denote places of Christian assembly.  Three fishes also represent the Trinity.

In the Nave (the main body of the church)

The Norman font dates from the 11^th century, and was reinstated in 1993 having been found in a local Woolley garden.  You can see remnants of the iron hoops which were used to secure a lid.  This was to protect the holy water contained in the font.

In the west wall a stained glass window after William Morris, dated 1871.

A framed copy of a parchment hung on the west wall tells of the generosity of Thomas Ellis (died 1704).

The bench ends at the rear of the nave, and the screen in the south aisle, are 15^th century.

The bench ends supporting the pews at the front of the nave are by Richard Wheatlev, and also date from the 15^th century.

The doorway and stairs in the south wall of the nave once led to a timber medieval screen and loft separating the nave from the chancel.  Over the doorway is a tympanum panel with a sculptured Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) clasping a flag, and patterned border, dating from the original Norman church.

In the Wentworth Chapel (to the left of the choir stalls)

Francis Woodruffe sold his Woolley lands to Michael Wentworth in 1599.  The Wentworth family were generous benefactors and patrons of the church until 1949, when the Woolley Hall estate was sold.  We see today the chapel restored in 1930 by Guy and Eleanor Wentworth.

The north windows depict John Woodruffe, Lord of the manor of Woolley, and his wife Elizabeth Hammerton and their arms.  John Woodruffe was constable of Sandal Castle and Receiver of Royal rents under Edward IV (1461-1483) and Richard III (1483-1485).

Over the north door there is a fine memorial to Sir George Wentworth (1599-1660).

The font (which is not used) dates from 1871

The altar table is the heavy marble top of the tomb of Ann Wentworth (died 1624), wife of Sir George Wentworth and daughter of Lord Fairfax of Denton.

The cross and candlesticks in florentine style were given in 1930.

The ceiling bosses of the chapel roof show the arms of families related to the Woodruffe’s, and the Wentworth’s who succeeded at Woolley.  The shape of the shields help us to date the chapel between 1510-1530.

In the Chancel (the area including the choir stalls and the main altar)

An arcade of columns and pointed arches on the north side of the chancel date from the 15^th century

The reredos behind the altar dates from 1966.  Made by Thompson of Kilburn, look for the carved little mouse, a trade-mark of Thompson.

The pipe organ was installed in 1986, but was first built by Norman & Beard in 1915 for a church in Penistone, who generously gave it to Woolley in 1986 to replace one which had served this church since 1825.

In the Lady Chapel (the area to the right of the main altar)

The circular 15^th century Trinity window on the east side shows a rare depiction of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

On the south wall is hung a funeral hatchment (diamond shaped tablet) to Godfrey Wentworth, who died in 1865, showing his armorial bearings

The Bells (hung high in the tower building)

There is a peel of five bells in the key of B flat major.  The oldest bell has in Latin an inscription ‘given by Sir Richard Woodruffe 1477 – 1522’

The heaviest bell weighs 7 cwt.  These two bells were re-hung in 1743 in a wooden frame, together with a third bell dated 1612.  A fourth bell was added in 1871, donated by the farmers of Woolley.  The bells were re-hung again in 1984, and augmented with a fifth bell, a treble.

The Clock (also high in the tower building in its own room,)

The tower clock is thought to date from 1743, probably made by John Harrison (famous for inventing the maritime chronometer), whose brother made and fitted the bell frame in the same year.  At one time the clock face was fixed high above the bell louvers on the parapet of the east side of the tower, but it was moved to the north side in 1871.

In the Church Yard

On the south side near the entrance to the porch

The two raised grave stones on the west of the path to the porch are grade II listed, are graves of George Wildsmith and George Stringer, 1723 and 1724.

Also to the west side of the path is a listed circular cross base, probably medieval, in which is sunk a short section of the original square cross shaft.

Two more raised grave stones to the east of the path, also grade II listed, are the graves of Susanna and Anne Fretwell, 1707 and 1714.

A grade II listed pair of shrine-like tomb chests, possible Norman.  These are believed to be tombs of the builders of the church who fell from the tower.

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