St Peter Apostle

Introduction

The church was built in 1862-4, with a tower added in 1877. The original architect was Henry Clutton of London.

History

The builder was G Gascoyne of Newbold Terrace, Leamington. A fire of 1884 caused damage to the roof and structure, and the church was restored and rebuilt largely to the original designs. The church was embellished in 1901.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of pinkish-brown brick in Flemish bond with Bath stone dressings and a plain tile roof. The style is Gothic Revival, Early English. The plan includes a south-west bell tower, a 5-bay aisled nave with clerestory, short transepts, and transept chapels. The north-east Chapel of the Sacred Heart has an alabaster, Caen stone and marble altar, reredos and super-altar designed by AJ Pilkington and AE Purdie and executed by Boulton.

The south-east Chapel of St Joseph has an altar by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin brought from the former Leamington Mission, George Street. The chancel has altar rails on a brass balustrade and a Minton tile floor with symbols of the paschal lamb and pelican. The apse sanctuary has moulded, decorated panels with images of Popes by Hardman and Company, F Hill artist, to designs of D Powell, of 1901. The high altar is of alabaster, marble and Bath stone by AB Wall of Cheltenham.

The font is by Hardman, Powell and Company. The tower exterior features stepped buttresses, a rounded stair turret, and various slit and bell openings. The west end has a recessed central double entrance with statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and an angel, set within a roll-moulded pointed-arched surround with engaged columns. Inside, an organ loft is supported on three banded columns with foliate capitals.

The interior arcade is pointed-arched with roll-moulding and a continuous hollow-moulded hood, carried on double-shafted columns with foliate capitals and water-holding bases. The interior is covered by a wagon roof. The north transept chapels have mosaic floors.

Parish life

The parish runs a Luncheon Club for the Elderly. Brian Austin leads a parish group providing food and assistance to the homeless and needy. The parish runs 'Come and See', a programme for non-Catholics and Catholics wishing to refresh or re-engage with their faith, with weekly sessions from autumn until after Easter.