village church

At St Peter’s Church we extend a warm welcome to everyone of all ages in our community. We are here to worship God and to share the Christian message and we encourage you to come along and join us.

At a recent meeting of the St Peter’s Church PCC it was decided that it is still not safe to open the church for public worship. This decision will be reviewed in November as the situation and guidelines change.

Public worship is being held in All Hallows Church, South Cerney to which all from across the benefice are invited. If you would like to attend a service then please contact Martin Gould, one of the churchwardens at All Hallows Church, either by e mail, martingould56@btinternet.com or telephone 07958 962543. The main Sunday service at 10.30am is also being streamed via Zoom; for details of how to log in contact Jennifer the Vicar (vicar@churnsidechurches.org.uk). Worship resources are also available on our website (www.churnsidechurches.org.uk) and Facebook page (Churnside Benefice Churches).

We are part of the Churnside group of parishes, which also includes South Cerney, Cerney Wick and Preston.

Clergy team

Vicar: Revd Jennifer McKenzie
The Vicarage, Silver Street, South Cerney, GL7 5TP
Tel: 01285 860221 | Email: vicar@churnsidechurches.org.uk
The Vicar’s day off is on Friday.

The church office is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.00am–1.00pm.
Tel: 01285 862632. There is an answer phone at other times.
Email: office@churnsideoffice.plus.com

Siddington churchwardens

St Peter’s, Siddington: Allen Howe on 01285 643574.

All Saints, Preston: Alister Painter on 650624

Church flowers

The flower arranging team is always pleased to welcome new members. Pleae contact Jill Simmonds on 654633 for further information.

Church cleaners

The church is cleaned by volunteers and relies on volunteers to keep the churchyard tidy.

History of the building

St Peter’s Church dates back to about 1150. As you enter through the south porch, look above your head and you will see a wonderful Norman carving called a Tympanum. Jesus is seated on his throne, presenting the keys of the church to St Peter and a book to St Paul. The sixteen clasping beak-heads and capitals show the influence of the Vikings and the beautiful almond-shaped eyes show the inspiration of the Saxons. As you walk through the exquisite ancient oak door, you will see the tall, cylindrical Romanesque 12th century font decorated with a herringbone band, an acanthus scroll and interlaced cubes and hands. The third Norman feature is the chancel arch with all its fine stonework and chevron moldings. The chancel was restored in the early English style in the 19th century. The triple-lancet window at the east end, and the encaustic tiles on the floor and the dado are of the same period.

The perpendicular north aisle is known as the Langley Chapel because it was built by Edmund Langley in about 1470. The roof has molded beams and eighteen angels bearing shields with the Langley arms. This chapel was a little marred in the eighteenth century by the removal of the stained glass from the east window to be used as the central feature of the great east window in Cirencester Parish church, and also by the placing of the organ in front of it.

The tower and the broach-spire above the porch were added in 1864. The tower contains six bells. On the outside, the whole of the north aisle has an embattled parapet, and according to Rudder (1779), there used to be an unfinished tower at the west end. The chancel, north aisle and nave roofs have been restored very recently.