St. Peter the Apostle, Woolrich

Introduction

The church was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in 1843, with a later chancel.

History

The first mission chapel in Woolwich was built in 1816. The Government donated the land for the church in 1841, and Pugin became architect in September 1841; the church was completed in October 1843.

The sanctuary, part of Pugin's original design, was built in 1889 by architect Frederick Walters following Pugin's plans. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £250,000 to the parish over 2016-19 to help repair the church roof and stonework. The church roof and stonework renewal took place in 2017.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of multicoloured stock brick with stone dressings, with Decorated style window tracery. The interior has a 5-bay nave with sharply pointed arches on quatrefoil piers and a wood gallery at the west end. The church has a traceried stone reredos.

The sacristy has two stories built around 1870 and joined to Pugin's original single storey sacristy of about 1844. The east stained glass window, made as part of Pugin's original design in 1843, was dismantled in 1889 and replaced in the new east wall; the maker was probably William Wailes of Newcastle. The reredos behind the high altar was designed by Frederick Walter's son Edward and made in 1943. The main stone structure of the high altar was installed in 1942/3, in preparation for the planned centenary consecration.

A forward altar was first installed in the early 1970s; the present stone altar and matching ambo were purchased in 1993, with the ambo structure made from parts of the communion rails used from 1892 until the 1970s. The church has a nave and aisles without a clerestory, and a chancel that extends the nave at full height. The church has stepped buttresses to the aisles and angle buttresses at the east end. The church has an elaborate moulded doorway in many planes at the west bay of the south aisle, and a smaller door at the west end. The church has large windows at the east and west ends.

Parish life

The parish has a strong Nigerian community. St Peter's Professional & Trades Network aims, as a separate and independent body, to foster members' lives. Friends in the Holy Spirit is a charismatic renewal prayer group.

A Food Bank operates one afternoon every week in Pugin Place. The parish runs a parish surgery. The parish has a Legion of Mary group. The parish has a Bible Hour study group. The parish has a Central Choir.

Notable people and events

Father Cornelius Coles was the founding priest of St Peter's, performing his first baptism in St Mary's Chapel on 28 April 1839. Father Jeremiah Cotter served in Woolwich for 30 years and paid for the large 1870 section of the presbytery.

Visiting

For groups, the church is happy to arrange a tour with one of its volunteer guides. Pedestrian access to the church site is via one of two gates; the gate to the right provides level access and the gates are wide enough for a wheelchair when both gate-leaves are opened. The main (West) door of the church has three steps with handrails; the side (South) door gives ramped access, without handrails. An induction loop system is installed in the church for those using hearing-aids. The parish shop is generally open after every Sunday Mass.