St Peter's Church Through the Centuries

1760

St Peter's Church in Titchfield has been restored and altered at various points in its long history, but the works carried out in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were particularly significant in shaping the building as it appears today. The church has Saxon origins, and elements of the pre-Conquest building survive in the nave and the remarkable western porch, which features Saxon stonework and a carved head that may date from the seventh or eighth century. The church was enlarged and modified during the medieval period, with additions including the chancel and the tower. By the eighteenth century, the accumulated wear of centuries required attention, and restoration works were carried out to repair the fabric and to adapt the interior for contemporary worship. Further restoration took place in the Victorian period, when the Gothic Revival movement prompted many parish churches across England to undertake works that aimed to recover their medieval character. At St Peter's, the Victorian restoration was carried out with some sensitivity, preserving the Saxon and medieval features while updating the interior fittings. The church contains a number of significant monuments, including the Wriothesley monument in the chancel, which commemorates the 1st Earl of Southampton and his family. The building is Grade I listed and is one of the most important parish churches in Hampshire, with a continuous history of worship spanning over a thousand years.