St Peter’s Church Golden Jubilee Year 1956/7

The Story of Our Parish Church

Rushden, a hundred years ago, must have been a pleasant village in which the houses were gathered closely around the ancient Parish Church of St. Mary. With the development of industry and the arrival of the railway, the village began to develop into a small country town. Extensions to the town, mostly on the north and west side, created the need for a Mission Church. Land upon which to build was a necessity, and at last, during the incumbency of the Rev. C. J. Gordon, a site between Station Road and Midland Road was secured at a cost of £300. Upon a portion of this land, the original Church of St. Peter was erected. This building was dedicated by the Right Rev. Bishop Mandel Creighton, then Bishop of Peterborough, on Thursday, January 24th, 1895. Plans for the Church had been prepared by Mr. F. E. Preston, and Mr. Robert Marriott carried out the work of construction. That building originally designed to serve in a dual capacity of Church and Church Hall, is now used as a Church Room, and serves many purposes. It is still a substantial building, constructed of Northamptonshire stone with Weldon dressings, and has a lofty tiled roof. The main hall is airy and commodious, capable of seating about 250 people. Its eastern part was then arranged so as to serve as a sanctuary with a Holy Table, a chancel, organ chamber, and vestry. These were shut off from the main hall by doors on either side, and by an encased revolving shutter which fitted into the chancel archway. The people evidently had a great love for the new Church, for they showered their gifts upon it. These included silver Communion plate, Communion linen, a carved oak font with cover of oak and wrought iron, Communion rails, lectern and Bible, vases, candlesticks and alms-dish in brass, service books, and choir outfit. Of these, the parish magazine of the parent Church says: "All these gifts have been most kindly offered, chiefly by communicants of the old parish as helps to devotion and seemliness of worship in the new district, and they are all very much appreciated as being valuable in themselves and as tokens of fellowship in the highest things". The Mission Church of St. Peter was started on its life well equipped, and fortified by the devotion and the love of the people under the leadership of the Rev. C. Blathwayt.

Our Parish Church of St. Peter

Before long, the accommodation of the Mission Church was quite inadequate to meet the needs of the district, and plans were made for the erection of a larger, and permanent Church. Towards this end, the Rev. C. J. Gordon started a fund with a generous donation of £1,000, although he laid down his task as Rector in the same year that the Mission Church was dedicated. Preparations went ahead steadily, and when Archdeacon Kitchin became Rector of the Parent Church of St. Mary in 1905, matters were speedily urged forward. The Mission Church itself passed in 1906 into the care of the Rev. G. E. Betenson who was Curate-in-charge, and in that year, on September 25th, the foundation stone of our present Church was laid by the Right Hon. Lord Ampthill, of Milton Ernest. This stone can be seen on the North-eastern pier of the nave. It bears the sacred monogram "I.H.S.", the crossed keys of St. Peter, carved in relief upon a shield, and the following inscription executed in Gothic characters : "This stone was laid to the honour and glory of God, September 25th, 1906."

We have on the authority of Mr. Harold Ball, who as a young man helped to build the church, that immediately underneath the foundation stone was placed a 7lb. sweet bottle, containing a copy of The Times and the Church Magazine, the names of the Builder and Architect, the names of the Clergy, and current coins of the realm valued from 1d. to £1. The glass stopper was sealed with sealing wax. The late Mr. Talbot Brown designed the Church, seeking to reproduce in it the spirit of XVth century Gothic architecture. Mr. Robert Marriott was entrusted with the task of raising the structure.

This fine, modern Church was consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop, The Hon. Edward Carr Glynn, on December 12th, 1907. Standing as it does on its rising ground, the Church is best seen from the elevation of the Higham Road or the station approach. Its great cross at the East End, carved in stone with its arms held in the circle, representative of the unity of the eternal Godhead, stands plainly to view as the symbol of our redeeming faith which is available to all.

The Church, which is constructed of brick, with dressings of Weldon Stone, has an exterior which is very plain, almost verging upon austerity. Its south side bears no trace of ornamentation, but on the north side, this severity is relieved by several features. The north porch stands out from the main building and above its pointed doorway there is a carved niche for a figure of St. Peter. The eastern end of this north aspect is further relieved by the Chapel with its steep roof, and an octagonal bell-tower which is surmounted by a flag staff. A further porch, built into the tower, gives access to the Chapel.

The Interior is spacious and of most gratifying proportions. On entering by the North door, dominating the Nave's western end, and standing in a most central position is the Font, with its ornate canopied cover. The actual font is of a plain octagonal design, and has a large lead-lined bowl. It rests upon an octagonal erection of two steps with a raised elevation for the Ministrant. The cover is also octagonal, with doors opening outwards, and is surmounted by a tall canopy which resembles a Church Spire flanked by flying buttresses. Although the cover is of very fine oak, the work of Mr. Charles Johnson, a local craftsman, it has been most elaborately coloured. On the eastern side, a picture of the crucifixion occupies the whole of one panel. Four of the other panels have shields, and on these are various emblems. They are the lily, the rose, the arms of Peterborough diocese, and the arms of the Archiepiscopal see of Canterbury, in which province this diocese is situated. Above the panels, and beneath the cornice, are gilded bosses of the conventional patterns found at various points in the Church. Among these are the lily, the rose, the olive, oak-leaves with acorns, holly, shamrock, and wheat. The opened doors reveal a coloured interior which is executed in tints of quiet and restrained tones. The roof, however, bears a white Dove with nimbus-surrounded head, emblematic of the Holy Spirit, whose sanctifying indwelling is invoked on all who are Baptised.

The Children's Corner came into being at the instigation of the Rev. E. T. Hughes a few weeks before he left the Parish in 1955, and was made possible through the generosity of a parishioner who gave £50, and also to Mrs. Underwood who gave an oak table in memory of her Son, Brian.

One striking feature of the Nave, with aisles on the north and south, is its lightness, for there is nothing in it to weigh down or darken the scene. The Nave itself consists of five bays with plain octagonal piers which grow up into wide, moulded, pointed arches. Clerestory windows of three lights each, on North and South give light to the body of the Church. These rise above a string course which is carried throughout the building except for the west wall. Here, the string course is broken by the perpendicular west window which almost fills the wall. This window has six lights, and these are divided by two strong upright mullions which run from top to bottom. Heavy as are these mullions, they do not detract from the delicacy of the tracery which soars upward from the six lights to the pointed head of the window arch. Light is given to the aisles by windows, each of three lights. There are two exceptions to this rule, however, for it will be noticed that the easternmost windows on both the North and South sides have but two lights. The wooden, barrel roof of the Nave is continued through the entire length of the building right up to the eastern wall.

The Pulpit stands on the north side of the Nave and is entered through an arch in the Chancel Screen. Resting upon a stone pedestal, the pulpit is of oak with a carved cornice depicting the Vine. Its five panels have each a piece of carved tracery in the upper part. The design of two of these is that of a square with circular tracery in the middle resting upon relief carving of roses With foliage in the corners, the other three have a design like a perpendicular window crossed by a transom. Balancing the pulpit, a carved oak lectern of plain, conventional design, stands on the south side of the screen.

The Chancel, elevated one step above the Nave, and is entered through a lofty screen of carved oak with wrought iron stancheons and saddle bars. The heavy topmost beam of the screen is carved after a design eminently in keeping with the architecture of the Church, yet reminiscent of Restoration work when the Classical model was in fashion under the influence of Sir Christopher Wren. This work is the result of the craftsmanship of a Mr. Reynolds, of Northampton. The central arch of the screen, executed with cusps, roses and foliage, bears the inscription: "In propia venit," "He came unto His own;" a fitting reminder to the worshippers. The Chancel has handsome oaken choir stalls, the front panels of which have carved tracery harmonising with that of the pulpit. Clergy stalls are situated on either side of the choir seats, and these are handsomley carved, though executed with fitting restraint. The ends of the stalls and choir ssats are carved with designs which vary between lilies, wheat, roses, olives and the crowned sacred monogram, I.H.S., surrounded by olives.

The Sanctuary is approached by a step on which rest the carved oak Communion Rails. Within the rails is another elevation on two steps which are carried through the entire width of the Sanctuary. On a dais of stone stands the oaken Holy Table. This is backed by a Re-table in oak and a lofty dossal of green tapestry and velvet. This last rises up to the base of the east window. The window is of seven lights with fine upright mullions. These lights like those of the west window, break into delicate tracery tapering upward to the tip of the pointed window arch. Spaciousness is the outstanding feature of the Sanctuary, and this lends an added dignity and solemnity to the sacred actions performed therein. Although covered by a frontal, the Holy Table is a magnificent piece of workmanship. Its front five panels are carved with tracery which reflects the characteristics of that of the pulpit and Choir Stalls. The Sanctuary is panelled on its three sides with upright panelling of oak. On the South side is the Sedilia, which accommodates three persons. This is let into the wall, and canopied in a scroll pattern with cusps, and the tudor rose with foliage.

The Organ, built by Messrs. Nicholson and Co., of Worcester, has two manuals and a pedal organ. It stands on the South side of the Chancel, and has a most handsome oaken case which rises like a canopy from the console. It is adorned by carved bosses of varying design depicting wheat, the vine, lilies, olives, laurel, thistles, the tudor rose, and oak leaves with acorns. The upper part which holds the pipes is picked out with stars of gold. An electric blowing apparatus was subsequently added to the organ, purchased from a legacy of £100 bequeathed to the Church by the late Mr. Wm. Chettle who, with Mr. Robert Marriott, the builder of the Church as co-warden, was the first Vicar's Warden of the new Church.

The Chancel Roof although of the same height and design of that of the Nave, differs in detail from the rest. Over the Chancel Screen is a heavy oak beam with tracery and cusps at either side. Beyond the beam, the ribs of the roof are picked put in oak. It is more than probable that these two striking features, the roof being the same height throughout the length of the building, and the absence of a chancel arch, which are responsible for the almost perfect acoustic properties of the Church. The human voice and the tones of the organ can easily be heard in every part of the building. Neither speaker nor vocalist are called on to make a superhuman effort that they might be audible at any point in the Church.

There is an almost entire absence of carved stone throughout the whole Church. The only traces of this particular kind of the craftsman's art in the interior are to be found in three places only. The first of these is the door leading from the Sanctuary to the Clergy vestry. The second is on the arch leading from the principle Sanctuary to that of the Chapel. The third is on the arches which divide the Chapel from the Chancel. A similar design, the tudor rose with foliage, are found in the first two, whilst in the third place, it appears in carved bosses of conventional design under each of the two grooved arches.

The Chapel is entered from the Nave through a handsome, though plain, oaken screen, and it has staunchions and crossbars similar to those of the Chancel Screen. It is furnished with chairs and a Clergy stall. Its Sanctuary rises from the level of the floor to the height of a step. In a shallow alcove, and on a stone dais, stands the Holy Table. The Holy Table itself is a good piece of workmanship, the result of the toil of the craftsman who made the front cover and canopy. It is of oak, and panelled on three sides. The southern side bears this inscription: "The Thankoffering of W. E. and A. E. Griffin." The rather unusual, yet pleasing, communicants' bench, has the inscription which reads: "Remember Martha Henfrey Carroll, a leader beloved among the Mothers of this Parish, 1919-1927." On its three sides, the Sanctuary has oaken panelling, whilst hangings of blue in the alcove where the Holy Table stands serve as a dossal. The Chapel roof is picked out in squares and rises from the eaves to make three angles. Above the Sanctuary, it has been coloured in an elaborate design. The dominating colour is blue which forms the groundwork of each panel. Golden stars have been superimposed on this base, whilst the ribs of the panels which run east and west, north and south, are picked out with red, black and white. The joints of the panels are covered with bosses, both large and small, and these are gilded over their groundwork of red.

Three windows, each of three lights with tracery, give illumination to the Chapel. These are filled with stained glass, depicting episodes in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first window bears the inscription: "To remember Percy Barwell Spriggs, M.A., Vicar of this Parish, 1927-1940. Entered into rest in Christ, 20th July, 1940." This depicts the childhood of our Lord's earthly mother, the Annunciation and the Salutation.

The second window has pictures of the Nativity, the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, and the Return from Calvary. This window, the bequest of the late Mrs. C. T. Turlington has this inscription: "Remember Alfred Turlington and Charlotte Tovey Turlington his wife, who gave this window, October 23rd, 1938."

Last in this series of windows is that in the east wall. It pictures the Virgin Mary at the Ascension of our Lord, and then when she was later with that company of about a hundred and twenty disciples in the Upper Room at the descent of the Holy Spirit. The centre light has a picture of the Virgin wearing a crown and holding the Infant Saviour of the world in her arms. Beneath that picture this inscription can be read: "Remember in the Lord, Philip John Richards, M.A., priest, first Vicar of this Parish. Died April 20th, 1923." The tracery lights of this window depict the names which tradition has sometimes ascribed to Christ's earthly mother, these are the rose, the star, the olive and the fountain.

On the Panelling. The Thanksgiving of E. and J. W. Goode. To remember William Chettle, Churchwarden and Benefactor. The Jubilee Gift of the Mothers Union, 1895—1945. To remember William Pack Jolley, Organist for 33 years. To remember Past Vicars: Philip John Richards, 1913—1918; Alfred James Meakin, 1918—1918; Ian Carroll, 1919—1927; Percy Barwell Spriggs, 1927— 1940. In Memory of the Fallen of the Parish, 1914—1918; 1939—1945.

The next great step forward in the life of the Church was the formation of St. Peter's district into a Parish. This was effected by an Order in Council on December 4th, 1913. The boundaries of the parish are marked by the Hall Brook as it flows along its covered course from the Wellingborough Road, by way of Duck Street. Where this stream meets the railway, the boundary follows the track of the iron road as far as the boundary of Higham Ferrers. From that point it takes a straight line to, and then along the middle of Northampton Road leading to Wellingborough. At a point where a little-used road branches off past the leather factory which is situated- there, the boundary runs down to the River Nene and follows that watercourse as far as the Irchester boundary. Following that new line southward as far as Knuston Spinney, it turns eastward along the course of the stream which tumbles down its track between St. Margaret's Avenue and St. Mary's Avenue, until it joins the Hall Brook. This new parish, making up the second largest parish in the Peterborough Diocese, covering an area of 1336 acres, needed a Vicar, and the Rev. P. J. Richards, who was then Curate-in-charge, was instituted as Vicar on December 4th, 1913, and inducted by the Yen. E. M. Moore, Archdeacon of Oakham, on December 16th, 1913.

The first three Vicars of the parish found their home within its boundaries in various houses, and it fell to the lot of the fourth incumbent to find a site for, and build, a Vicarage. Having secured a plot of land for the purpose on the Western side of the Wellingborough Road, opposite the top of Fitzwilliam Street, plans were prepared and the work was begun. A certain sum of money had previously been provided for the cost of a Vicarage, but it needed very considerable augmentation for the task in hand. The Vicarage, a commodious Georgian house of brick with slated roof was built, and stands in its own garden. At a private, simple service, in the presence of a few friends representative of the parish, the Right Rev. Bishop Blagden conducted the ceremony of blessing on Sunday, May 4th, 1930. Entering the hall, he began with the words: "Let the Lord bless the inhabitants of this house and all the children of it," a prayer which we trust will be graciously answered by God throughout the years during which the Vicarage may stand.

Further extension of the town followed the first World War, with much of this new housing on the western side of the town and within this parish. The provision of spiritual ministrations for this growing population became a necessity, so the erection of a Mission Hall was planned, and a fine hall now stands on a site along the Highfield Road. This hall, originally known as St. Peter's Mission Hall, is built of brick, erected according to the plans of Mr. Paul J. J. Panter, and was built by Mr. Robert Marriott. The design of the hall is in the form of a letter "T". It consists of a main hall capable of seating about 300 people, and has a platform at the further end approached by three steps. Behind the corridor at the rear of the platform is a large assembly room capable of division into two class-rooms by the use of folding doors. The Hall has kitchen accommodation and cloak rooms. This building was dedicated by the Right Rev. Bishop Blagden on the twenty-ninth anniversary of the consecration of the Parish Church of St. Peter. At this ceremony, accompanying the Diocesan, was the Right Rev. Bishop Lang, Archdeacon of Oakham, in whose Archdeaconry the parish is situated. That day was both dark and dreary, and at the dedication the Bishop said: "It is a dark December day, but in this place are light and hope for the future." Then, on October 10th, 1954, the Hall was hallowed and renamed by the late Bishop Spencer Leeson.

Parochial Organisations and Staff.

Vicar: THE REV. J. R. ASPINALL, St. Peter's Vicarage, Wellingborough Road. Lady Worker: SISTER J. MASON, C.A., 78A, Wellingborough Road. Lay Reader: MR. C. S. PRATT, 14, Dayton Street.

Church Wardens: MR. C. S. PRATT ; MR. K. H. WILLIAMS, 32 Shirley Road. Deputy Church Warden : MR. W. C. F. FLOWERS, 36, Midland Road.

Chairman: The Vicar.

Parochial Church Council.

Vice-Chairman (also Chairman Finance and Jubilee Committee): Mr. G. W. Marriott, Slade House, Wellingborough Road.

Treasurer: Mr. T. Maddams, 5 Park Avenue.

Secretary: Mr. K. G. Gibbard, 9, Upper Park Avenue.

Councillors: Messrs. F. J. Allen, F. Bennett, W. C. F. Flowers, H. Gardner, J. Hearn, J. W. Jackson, A. Knight, P. Maddams, A. Marks, C. S. Pratt, K. H. Williams, Mesdames Foster, Gardner, Page, Pratt and Tye, Misses Ball and Page.

Diocesan Conference Representatives: Mrs. Marriott and Mrs. Williams.

Ruri-Decanal Conference Representatives: Mrs. Elliott, Sister Mason and Mrs. Tassell.

Partnership Plan Treasurers: Mr. F. J. Allen, 55, Midland Road, Mr. J. W. Jackson, 22, Park Avenue.

Sidesmen: Messrs. B. Bailey, J. N. P. Barnwell, R. A. Bland, D. Cooper, H. Cox H. Dickens, R. Flawn, W. C. F. Flowers, J. W. Goode, R. V. Goodey, L. F. Gosling, A. Greasley, G. Green, J. W. Jackson, R. Lawman, A. Marks, F. Seamarks, G. Wagstaffe, D. White, and A. C. Wright.

Organist and Choirmaster: Mr. A. R. Hickling, 45, Eastfield Road, Wellingborough.

Deputy Organist: Miss E. Payne, 32, Church Hall Road.

Choristers: Messrs. B. Allen, J. Allen, G. Bazeley, R. Dickens, A. Ives, P. Maddams, R. Swindall, B. Thomas, C. Wood; Mesdames Jackson, Page, Shadbolt; Misses Payne, A. Chettle, M. Flaunty, V. Knighton, G. Lake, S. Gates, V. Slater, Stewart and Graham Cutmore, Ian Dorks, Stewart Lake, Peter Smith, Roger Jackson, Bruce Reynolds, Keith Green, David Valentine, Colin Taylor.

Servers: J. Hearn, A. Ives, P. Maddams, D. Pratt, R. Swindall.

Caretaker: Mr. W. G. Shadbolt, 12, Midland Road.

Scripture Union Secretary: Miss M. Flaunty, 114 Wellingborough Road.

Sunday Schools.

Secretary: Miss D. F. Page, 13, Midland Road. Treasurer: Miss M. Flawn, 17, Lime Street.

Juniors: (In the Church each Sunday at 2.15 p.m.) Teachers: Mr. H. Dickens (Superintendent), Messrs. J. Hearn, D. Cooper, S. Fox and A. Ward; Misses M. Flawn, J. Knighton, P. Robinson, C. White, J. Fensome.

Infants: (In the Church Room each Sunday at 2.15 p.m.) Teachers: Sister Mason, Misses H. Green, S. Smith, M. Wright, C. Colson, P. Clark, P. Elliott.

Pathfinder Bible Classes.

(Each Sunday in Moor Road Youth Centre at 2.15 p.m.) Leaders: P. Maddams, R. Flawn, Misses J. Clark and D. Page.

Mothers' Union.

(Second Wednesday of the month in the Church and Church Room at 2.30).

Enrolling Member: Mrs. Aspinall, The Vicarage.

Secretary: Mrs. Phillips, "The Poplars," Wellingborough Road.

Women's Fellowship.

(Each Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. in the Church Room). President: Mrs. Aspinall. Vice-President: Mrs. Page, 13, Midland Road. Secretary: Mrs. White, 58, Woodland Road.

Young Wives' Group.

(Third Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m. in the Church Room) Leader: Mrs. K. H. Williams, 32, Shirley Road.

Church of England Men's Society.

Chairman: The Vicar. Vice-Chairman: Mr. J. N. P. Barnwell, 45, Purvis Road. Secretary: Mr. F. Seamarks, 19, Spinney Road. Treasurer: Mr. J. White, 58, Woodland Road.

Young People's Fellowship.

(Thursdays and Sundays at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Room). Leader: The Vicar. Deputy Leader: Mr. P. Maddams, 61, Harborough Road. Secretary: Mr. R. Lawman, 22 Kings Road. Treasurer: Miss C. Colson, 321, Wellingborough Road.

Baby Fellowship.

(Fridays at 2.30 p.m. in the Church Room). Leader: Sister Mason, 78A, Wellingborough Road.

Girl Guides.

(Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the Church Room). Captain: Mrs. Gibbard, 9, Upper Park Avenue. Lieutenant: Miss H. Green.

Brownies.

(Mondays at 6.30 p.m. in the Church Room). Brown Owl: Miss M. Shelton, 39, Moor Road. Pack Leader: Miss P. Frost.

Boy Scouts. (Thursdays at 7.30 p.m. in St. Mark's).

Cubs. (Thursdays at 6 p.m. in the Church Room). Cub Mistress: Miss J. Clarke, 4A, Duck Street.

Needs of The Church.
(a) The Building.	Enlarge Choir Vestry, with heating. Completion of roof in Lady Chapel.
(b) Exterior.	Lawn. Railings or low wall on North side. Figure of St. Peter, North Door. Seats on Lawn Path. Motor Mower.
(c) Interior.	Centre Communion Rail. Four front and four rear pews to match choir stalls. New Dorsal behind Holy Table. Coat Racks. Book Case. Doors to replace curtains in choir vestry. Bell with deep tone in tower. Chancel heating. Hassocks. Glass and board partition North door. Glass and board partition South door. Curtain for Chapel above screen and for opening near pulpit. Oak panelling round Children's Corner. Additional Chancel lights.
Choir Equipment:	(i) Robes.
Sunday School Equipment:	(i) 24 small chairs.
Cleaning Equipment:	(i) Vacuum Cleaner. (ii) Electric water pump for extracting water from heating cellar.
Administration:	(i) Typewriter. (ii) Duplicating machine. (iii) Tape recorder—for use to relay services, etc., to sick and other (iv) Filing cabinet.
Church Room:	Extension West side. Cupboards for equipment of organisations, West wall. Crockery and table linen. Folding tables. Piano. New heating or supplementary heating. Additional door outside for draught protection. Ventilation of Stage. Notice Board—internal.
The following gifts have been made or promised: Motor Mower and buildings to house it, and maintaining the lawn - Church of England Men's Society Centre Communion - Rail Mothers' Union and Women's Fellowship Church Bell - Young Wives' Fellowship Hassocks - Young People's Fellowship Robes - Choir Tape Recorder - Anonymous Folding Tables - Guides and Brownies Linen and Crockery for St. Mark's - St. Mark's

A member of the congregation who wishes to remain anonymous has loaned one pound to any worshipping member of the church with which to work or trade throughout Jubilee Year, any profit arising to be credited to the Jubilee Funds.

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