Shorwell, St Peter's Church

St Peter's Church, Shorwell

We know that there was chapel at Shorwell as early as 1200, but the present church is largely a product of the 15th century. Highlights include a stunning 15th-century wall painting of St Christopher, and memorials to the Leigh family.

History

The oldest part of the current church is the north chapel, dating to around 1200. The north porch is 13th century, and the north porch is a 16th-century addition. The spire dates to the 17th century, while the vestry was added to house the town gun in the 18th century.

The 13th-century stone pulpit is perhaps the oldest on the Isle of Wight. Over it is a wooden tester added in 1620 to improve acoustics. Beside the pulpit is an hourglass bracket dating to the 17th century. The roof retains some Tudor timbers.

St Christopher 15th-century wall painting

St Christopher Wall Painting

Over the porch in the north aisle is the glory of Shorwell Church; a superb 15th-century wall painting depicting scenes from the life of St Christopher. The paintings are thought to have been made between 1440-1470.

In the centre is a scene of the saint carrying the Christ child across a river with ships and fish around his legs. A man sits on the riverbank, fishing, and a hermit carrying a lantern stands beside his cell.

Martyrdom of St Christopher wall painting

To the left is a scene of St Christopher standing beside a wayside cross and waving farewell to the Devil, renouncing him for Christ. To the right is a depiction of St Christopher's martyrdom, with arrows piercing his body. One of the arrows reverses direction and returns to strike the King of Lycia in the eye.

The detail of these wall paintings is exceptional and the overall effect is simply stunning.

To the left of the altar is a brass to Richard Bethel, vicar of Shorwell, dated 1518.

Elizabeth and Gertrude Leigh brass, 1619

Over the altar is a brass plaque in memory of the Elizabeth and Gertrude Leigh (d.1615 and 1619, respectively), the two wives of Barnabas Leigh. Elizabeth and Barnabas had 15 children, while Gertrude, Barnabas's second wife, died childless. The epitaph reads as follows (with spelling updated for clarity):

Since neither pen, nor pencil can set forth
Of these two matchless wives the matchless worth
Were forced to cover in this silent tomb
The praises of a chaste and fruitful womb
And with death's sable veil in darkness hide
The rich rare virtues of a barren bride.
Sweet saintlike pair of souls in whom did shine
Such models of perfection feminine
Such piety, love zeal that though we sinners
Their lives have lost, yet still themselves are winners
For they secure heaven's happiness inherit
Whilst we lament their loss [and] admire their merit.

The octagonal stone font is medieval, while the font cover is Jacobean and is inscribed with the phrase, 'And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him. Luke 3 Verse 22'.

17th-century Leigh memorials

In the north aisle are three outstanding memorials to members of the Leigh family. To the left is a wall monument to Sir John Leigh (d. 1629) and his great-grandson Barnabas, who died while the elder Leigh's memorial was being finished and was added to it. The baby is shown dressed in adult clothing, though in fact he died at nine months old.

The poignant epitaph reads:

Inmate in grave
he took his grandchild heir
Whose soul did haste to make to him repair
And so to heaven along as little page
With him did post
to wait upon his age.

In the centre is a marble tablet to another John Leigh, who died in 1688, while to the right is a wall monument in memory of Lady Elizabeth Leigh (d. 1619).

Cranmer Bible, 1541

The benches are 17th century, though several have 19th-century poppyhead ends.

In the north-east corner is a wood and glass case holding a rare copy of Cranmer's Bible, published in 1541. Cranmer's Bible was the first to be published in English. It is open to a page with an engraving showing King Henry VIII dispensing the Bible.

Look for a pair of corbel heads supporting roof beams. They represent Death and Sin. The figure of Death holds an hourglass in its hands.

Visiting

St Peter's Church stands on Main Road, in the heart of the village. The church is typically open daylight hours and was open when we visited. We didn't see a dedicated car park but it was easy to find a place to park along nearby roads.