Godalming Parish Church
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is a church that is located in Godalming
, Surrey
, England
.
remnants survive in the present structure, which was largely rebuilt in the late tenth or early eleventh century.
In 1086, the Domesday Book
recorded that Ranulf Flambard
, justiciar of William Rufus, held Godalming church. He is likely to have built the first tower and the great chancel – wall paintings on its window frames have recently been re-exposed.
In the thirteenth century, the cruciform church of the Normans
was converted into a rectangle by the construction of the north and south chapels and nave aisles. Around this period the magnificent oak-timbered spire was constructed, which is now clad in lead.
Further building work followed in subsequent centuries. The nave was lengthened and the aisles were extended westwards and widened in the 19th century, and the 20th century saw the construction of a porch in 1911 and vestries
in 1925.
Godalming
Godalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
A church has stood on the site of Saint Peter and Saint Paul since at least the mid-ninth century. The church contains carved stones which have been dated to circa 820-840 and a few Anglo SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
remnants survive in the present structure, which was largely rebuilt in the late tenth or early eleventh century.
In 1086, the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
recorded that Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England...
, justiciar of William Rufus, held Godalming church. He is likely to have built the first tower and the great chancel – wall paintings on its window frames have recently been re-exposed.
In the thirteenth century, the cruciform church of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
was converted into a rectangle by the construction of the north and south chapels and nave aisles. Around this period the magnificent oak-timbered spire was constructed, which is now clad in lead.
Further building work followed in subsequent centuries. The nave was lengthened and the aisles were extended westwards and widened in the 19th century, and the 20th century saw the construction of a porch in 1911 and vestries
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
in 1925.