Country United Kingdom Churchmanship Central Province Canterbury Phone +44 1603 610443 | Denomination Church of England Dedication Saint Peter Parish Norwich Diocese Diocese of Norwich | |
 | ||
Website www.stpetermancroft.org.uk Address Chantry Rd, Norwich NR2 1QZ, UK Burials Barry Butler, Edward Barnwell, Charles Catton Similar St John the Baptist Cathedral, Norwich Market, Norwich Cathedral, The Forum - Norwich, Cow Tower - Norwich | ||
Bell ringing st peter mancroft church norwich 15 09 13
St Peter Mancroft is a parish church in the Church of England, in the centre of Norwich, Norfolk. After the two cathedrals, it is the largest church in Norwich and was built between 1430 and 1455. It stands on a slightly elevated position, next to the market place.
Contents
- Bell ringing st peter mancroft church norwich 15 09 13
- The bells of st peter mancroft
- Description
- Bells
- Incumbents
- Choir
- Organ
- Organists
- Assistant organists
- References
St Peter Mancroft is a member of the Greater Churches Group.
The bells of st peter mancroft
Description
The present building was begun in 1430, on the site of an existing church, and consecrated in 1455. It is an ambitious building, 180 feet long and ashlar faced with a tower at the west end. It is a Grade I listed building.
It has a Norman foundation dating from 1075, a 1463 font, a 1573 Flemish tapestry and medieval glass. The North transept displays a remarkable collection of church silver (one of the finest of any parish church in the country) including the Gleane and Thistle cups, as well as memorabilia associated with its most famous parishioner, the physician-philosopher Thomas Browne, author of Religio Medici (1642). The small lead-covered spire with flying buttresses was added by A.E. Street in 1896.
In 1850 two L-shaped trenches accommodating a number of acoustic jars were discovered beneath the wooden floor on which the choir stalls had previously stood. The earthenware jars were built into its walls at intervals of about three feet, with the mouths facing into the trenches.
Bells
St Peter Mancroft has a ring of fourteen Whitechapel bells in the western tower, eleven of which date from 1775 and the latest of which dates from 1997. St Peter Mancroft is important in the history of change ringing because in 1715, 5040 changes of Plain Bob Triples were rung for the first time, in 3 hours and 17 minutes, as recorded in an inscription in the tower. Subsequently, the first complete peals to the change ringing systems known as Grandsire and Stedman were also rung in St Peter Mancroft.
Supernatural folklore is linked to the bells in St Peter Mancroft. In the story "Our Bells" authored by Mark Knights, which featured in the undated booklet (circa 1894) "Norfolk Stories", Knight writes:
This story was suggested by a visit to the steeple of St Peter Mancroft many years ago - when Mr P. Back was churchwarden - on the invitation of the late Mr Potter, father of Mr Potter, the present sexton.
The story tells of how a nobleman, fallen upon hard times, unwittingly tries to rob his own brother, but stays his hand after hearing the moving and beautiful Christmas Eve peal of bells. He subsequently assists in the ringing of the New Year's Eve peal, and bequeaths a sum of money to ensure that a jug of spiced ale is made available to future bell-ringers on that date. The story is recounted by a ghostly descendant of the sexton who was in residence when these events occurred.
Incumbents
Choir
There was once a large male voice choir which disbanded in 2000, though music is still an essential part of worship with the majority of the services being sung by one of the choirs at the Church. The baroque style organ, one of the finest of its kind, means that St Peter Mancroft is also an exceptional concert venue with many concerts being held all the year round.
Organ
A new organ by Peter Collins was installed in 1984. The specification can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.