Blockley, St Peter and St Paul Church

St Peter and St Paul Church, Blockley

The Cotswold village of Blockley is blessed with an abundance of attractive period buildings, but none more impressive than the parish church of St Peter and St Paul. The church was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 but the building we see today is primarily a product of the 12th century.

The architecture is a mix of Norman and Early English and the tower dates to 1180, with much 18th-century restoration work.

Figure of Father Brown inside the church

Blockley church is familiar to viewers of the popular Father Brown detective series as it serves as the setting for the Catholic church served by the titular character, Father Brown, played by actor Mark Williams. a figure of 'Father Brown' is on display inside the church.

The Blockley Miracle

In 1064, Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester (later St Wulfstan) was on a visitation to Blockley when he encountered the priest, who repeatedly had taken a plot of land and a cart from a local woman and refused to return them.

Wulfstan flew into a rage and cursed the priest, who immediately dropped down dead. Wulfstan was smitten with remorse and prayed to God to bring the priest back to life. God listened to his prayer and revived the priest, who repented his ways.

14th-century triple sedilia and piscina

History

The first church in Blockley was built around the year AD 800 and historical records show that there was a minster church here in AD 855 when the estate was sold to Bishop Alwhine of Worcester by Burgred of Mercia. A new Norman minster church was begun shortly after the Norman Conquest and completed in 1189. This 12th-century building can be seen in the walls of the chancel, west end, nave, and south porch.

Many of the windows were installed in the middle of the 14th century and the clerestory was inserted in the Stuart period.

In 1727 the medieval tower became unstable and was replaced with the present embattled tower.

Hannah Dickens memorial, 1752

Historical Highlights

The chancel dates to the 12th century and features delicately-carved arches on the north wall. The finest piece of architecture, though, is the beautiful 14th-century piscina and neighbouring triple sedilia on the south wall. The roof is 14th century, as is the chancel arch, set on 12th-century responds with scalloped capitals.

At the west end of the nave is a 12th-century doorway, now blocked.

The nave ceiling is from the 18th century and features decorative plaster panels in Georgian style. The north aisle roof dates to the 15th century.

Memorial brass to a priest, 1488

Memorials

The most interesting historical feature of the church is a series of beautiful memorials in an extension to the north aisle. Many of these are to members of the Rushout family, Barons Northwick. At the entry to this chapel are plaques to Lady Spencer Churchill (d. 1941) and her husband, Edward Spencer-Churchill (d. 1911).

One of the finest memorials is that to Sir James Rushout (d. 1705) and his wife, Arabella (also d. 1705). A poignant footnote to the memorial is the addition of a third name, that of their son, James, who died in 1711 at the age of just 10.

Against the east wall of this chapel is a superb monument to generations of the Rushout family. In the centre is a bust of the Right Honourable Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Northampton (d. 1750). To one side is a memorial plaque to Sir John Rushout (d. 1775), who served as Treasurer of the Navy. To the other is a plaque in memory of Sir James Rushout (d. 1698), who served as an ambassador to Constantinople.

Rushout family memorial, north aisle

The quality of the Rushout memorials is superb, and together they provide a fascinating glimpse into the power and prestige of one extended family in this area of the Cotswolds.

The oldest memorial in the church is a 15th-century funerary brass set into the chancel floor. This brass depicts an unnamed tinsured priest in his vestments and the date 1488.

Visiting

St Peter and St Paul Church is set back behind buildings on The Square, off Bell Lane, in the heart of Blockley. There is limited parking along neighbouring lanes, but we've always been able to find a place to park. The church is normally open daylight hours and has been open every time we have visited.