History

St Peter's, was designed by John Dando Sedding after he was chosen in a competition in 1889 from the three architects who entered.

His revised plan, which appeared in The Architect in 1890 was complimented by The Builder, which said:

"The whole thing is a piece of real originality in design, which is refreshing to come across after seeing so many repetitions of old forms, Classic and Gothic."

It was built by Sedding's pupil Henry Wilson 1892-93. The foundation stone was laid by Princess Helena, Queen Victoria's third daughter. The basic structure has been continuously added to. However the planned tower was never built. Farmer & Brindley installed a pulpit in 1910 and Blacker of Torquay installed a Devonshire marble font in 1911. In 1912 a side-chapel was built in the south transept (now the parish office). The proper south chapel was built alongside the chancel in 1913.

The Chapel of the Incarnation was refurbished as "The War Memorial Chapel" in 1919. The east wall was panelled in oak and a brass war memorial plaque was attached to the south wall. A large carved oak reredos by Bodley & Hare was installed. In 1927 an oak screen was added to the west end of the chapel and the east wall was painted with angels and an Annunciation scene. A nativity scene was painted on the front of the chapel altar in 1928, and a door fitted in the west screen.

A statue of St Peter by Boulton & Sons was installed on the south aisle wall in 1948. A figure of Christ in Majesty was attached to the east wall above the high altar in 1958, with figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Michael the Archangel added on either side in 1960, together with a Venetian sanctuary lamp. The original dossal curtains were removed in 1958 and replaced with the present reredos.

A nave platform and altar were built in 1983, and a white marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary placed in the north aisle. Two unusual features of the building are:

(a) the enormous, deeply recessed west window divided into three lights by buttresses rather than mullions and in a mixture of gothic and art deco designs, and

(b) the internal piers, which penetrate the roof and are completed with turrets that stick out halfway up and are connected by depressed arches.

Lack of money meant that very little stained glass was fitted, but this has made the building very light inside. All the glass is by C.E.Kempe & Co. Stained glass windows were installed in 1911 (south transept), 1912 (south transept), 1913 (south chapel) and 1915 (south aisle).

The three manual organ, built in 1894 by Bishop & Son, was rebuilt in 1925 by J.W.Walker, and in 1984 by Bishop & Son, who now maintain the instrument.

St Peter's is a Grade II* listed building.

Five spiritual journeys via Ealing

Well Known Spiritual Teachers and Writers connected with
Ealing. A leaflet entitled “Five Spiritual Journeys via Ealing”,
written by Michael Tiley, is available from the Parish Office, price 30p.

Cardinal Newman

Dorothy Kerin

Christmas Humphreys

Thomas Merton

John Main

Links