St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton

Parish church
name=St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton


caption=St. Peter's Collegiate Church
dedication=Saint Peter
denomination=Church of England
tradition=High Church
parish=Central Wolverhampton
diocese=Lichfield
province=Canterbury
rector=vacant
vicar=Eddie Brookes
vicar1=
curate=Paul Cody
organistdom=Peter Morris
organist=Dr. David Rendell
organist1=Brian Armfield
warden=Di Polowyj
warden1=Nik Peters
website= [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk/index/petersChurch/ www.wulfruna.org.uk/index/petersChurch]

St. Peter’s Collegiate Church is located on the oldest and highest site in central Wolverhampton. It is Wolverhampton's principal church and is part of the Parish of Central Wolverhampton. [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk/] The building, much of which dates from the 15th century, is of significant architectural and historical interest; although it is not a cathedral, it has a strong choral foundation in the English Cathedral tradition. The Father Willis organ is of particular note: a campaign to raise £270,000 for its restoration was launched in 2008. [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk/pdf/St%20Peter%27s%20Organ%20Campaign.pdf Organ Campaign Leaflet]

"The Collegiate Church of Saint Peter stands at the highest point of Wolverhampton, on a site hallowed by the prayers of Christian people for over one thousand years. It is a living monument to Wolverhampton'’s long history, and it is a place where people come for special services, for joyful and solemn civic occasions, for concerts and recitals, for quiet in the middle of their busy lives as well as week by week to express their commitment to Christ and His Gospel." [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk/history.pdf St. Peter's History]

History

The church is thought to have been founded in 994 by Wulfruna, who was believed to have been the grand-daughter of King Ethelred I and Queen Aethelflaed (daughter of King Alfred the Great). [http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/people/local/wulfruna]

In 985 King Ethelred II (Ethelred the Unready) granted to Wulfruna ten hides of land at Heatune. It is believed that Heantune (or High Town) later became known as Wulfruna's Heantune, hence the name Wolver-hampton. In 994 Wulfrun gave ten of land for the endowment of a church at a place called Heantune.

The church was, until 1846, a peculiar outside the juristiction of the Diocese of Lichfield. It was under the authority of the Dean of Wolverhampton, who had seven prebendaries to assist him. In the medieval ages the church was linked to the Deanery of Windsor, the two positions being held by the same person. Since 1846, the church has been a parish church in the Diocese of Lichfield and its incumbents entitled Rector of Wolverhampton. [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Wolverhampton/StPeter/index.html]

[http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&id=zK4HAAAAQAAJ&dq=st.+peter%27s+collegiate+church&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=CuNoVCScCI&sig=m3v6QmwKP61mcXsB3D2jqRM571A&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA26,M1] [A Short Historical Account of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Wolverhampton]

Timeline [http://www.wlv.ac.uk/Default.aspx?page=12323]

994 - Lady Wulfrun gave lands (given to her by King Ethelred II) to the church of St Mary at Hantun. Wulfrun + hantun = Wolvrenehamptonia - the town is named Wolverhampton. The dedication of the church was changed to St Peter and St Paul, later to St Peter
1205 - Tower crossing constructed (this is the oldest part of the church)
1258 - Right to hold a weekly market and an annual fair on the feast of St Peter and St Paul
1350 - Chapel of our Lady and St George is built
1440 - Nave built to current height
1450 - Stone pulpit built
1479 - King Edward IV united the deaneries of Wolverhampton and Windsor. Richard Beauchamp (Bishop of Salisbury) was the first Dean of Windsor and Wolverhampton This move was thought to keep the revenue from St Peter’s estates (from wool) from falling into the Pope’s hands
1540 - Bells from Much Wenlock Priory installed to replace old bells (in 1729 more bells added to make a total of 10; in 1911 the frame replaced and bells recast)
1846 - Parliament abolished the deanery of Wolverhampton, St Peter’s becomes part of the Lichfield Diocese, with its own Rector
1847 - St. Peter’s Collegiate School established adjacent to the church
1860 - "Father" Henry Willis built a new organ (in 1882 the organ was enlarged; revamped with an electrical blowing installation in 1914; rebuilt in 1970 and "restored" in 1983)
1865 - Present chancel completed in decorated gothic style
1968 - Sanctuary re-panelled
1978 - Parish of Central Wolverhampton established: St Peter’s with All Saints, St Chad and St Mark: St Peter’s is once more a collegiate church

Architecture

"St Peter's Church, the ancient Collegiate and Parish Church of Wolverhampton, is pleasantly situated on elevated ground towards the eastern side of the town. It is a stately structure, consisting of a lofty nave, two side aisles, transepts, and a chancel, with a very finely embattled and richly ornamented tower, rising from the centre, to a height of 120 feet, and containing eight bells. The rectory is in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield, and the rector is the Rev John Osmond Dakeyne, MA. The Rev George Cottom, MA, is the lecturer, and the Revs John Ford, MA, and Thomas Jacob Freeth, BA, are the curates." [From History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire, William White, Sheffield, 1851] [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Wolverhampton/StPeter/index.html]

Today

Worship is in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. Vestments, reservation and the sacrament of reconciliation are all part of its tradition with incense used at festival services.

St. Peter's is open from 10:00 until 16:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, and before and after services on Sundays.

There is a shop offering Christian books, gifts and souvenirs, and there is a coffee bar in the nearby St. Peter's House.

The church has links with S. Peter's Collegiate School [http://www.speters.org.uk] , which, although originally founded adjacent to the church in 1847, is now located on the suburban Compton Park site of the University of Wolverhampton.

Music

The three-manual Father Willis organ, built in 1860, is particularly notable. [http://www.bhamorgan.org.uk/organs/047.htm] A campaign to raise £270,000 towards its restoration was launched in 2008. The restoration work, designed to return the organ to its former glory after the wear and tear of near-daily use and an inglorious re-build in the 1970s, is due to be completed by Principal Pipe Organs of York.

There is a strong choral tradition: more than 70 children and young people are involved, along with Lay Clerks and choral scholars. There are separate boys' and girls' choirs, each of which generally sings at a Cathedral during the Summer holidays. The Boys' Choir sang at Lincoln Cathedral in 2007 and at York Minster in 2008; the Girls' Choir sang at Chester Cathedral in 2007 and at Chichester Cathedral in August 2008. The Boys' Choir is due to sing at Norwich Cathedral in August 2009.

The current Director of Music is Peter Morris and the long-serving Assistant Organist is Dr. David Rendell. [http://home.btconnect.com/Nik-Peters/Choir/Main.htm]

Several of the lay clerks and choral scholars are members of [http://www.aftershavelive.co.uk/home.html Aftershave] , a close-harmony "a cappella" group of singers.

Bells

The church has a fine set of bells - the second oldest complete set of twelve in the country. The bells are rung twice weekly, on Mondays (practice night: 1945-2100 except Bank Holidays) and for the Sunday service (1000-1100). [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk/index/petersChurch/]

References

* [http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/statistics/churchstatistics2002 Church of England Statistics 2002]

ee also

*Bishop of Wolverhampton
*Lichfield Cathedral

External links

* [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk/ The Parish of Central Wolverhampton]
* [http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/ Diocesan website]