Church History
The Parish Church of St. Peter, Lingwood 2003.
In the name of Jesus Christ
We bid you welcome to this church
Here in the quiet you may worship at his throne
Here you may speak to the Father who loves you
Here give Him thanks
Here you may cast your cares upon him
Seek forgiveness for the past
Strength for the future
Then go on your way rejoicing
And may God bless you and grant you his peace
Evermore
Saint Peter
Simon Peter was a fisherman. When Jesus called him to a disciple he changed Peter's name from Simon Peter to Peter, which means 'rock'. Later, Jesus asked his disciples who people thought he was. Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.' Jesus replied, 'You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church'. Peter was one of Jesus' closest disciples and was with him at his transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane just before his death. After Jesus' arrest Peter was afraid and said three times that he did not know him. But at once he was bitterly sorry. Knowing this, Jesus appeared specially to Peter after his resurrection. At Lake Galilee he told Peter to care for the Christian 'flock' as a shepherd.
On the Day of Pentecost Peter preached boldly about Jesus to the crowds in Jerusalem. He continued to preach the Good News and wrote two of the New Testament letters.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH. LINGWOOD
ARCHITECTURE
THE EXTERIOR
The main part of the church appears to have been built in the late 13th century (approximately 1280). The walls of the nave and the chancel are continuous and this suggests an early date despite the present appearance.
The South Porch
This was constructed in the Early Perpendicular style of the late 14th or early 15th century. There is a good entrance doorway, hood mould over the arch with figures for stops. These figures have become weathered, but the one on the right can still be seen to be holding an axe. The south wall is faced with knapped flints.
The Nave
There are two windows on the south of the church and one on the north. All of these are three lights wide, which is quite large. The two on the south have similar tracery, whereas the north window is more decorative, with the unusual feature of stone flowers in the spandrels between the top of the light and the tracery. There are hood moulds over them with head stops which appear to be monks. The tracery was restored in 1994.
The north doorway has been built over to form the wall of the boiler house.
West Tower
This was built in the late 13th century in the Early English style and is unbuttressed.
The west window (in the vestry) has plate tracery of this period and a hood mould above it with head stops.
The belfry has only one bell, which is regularly used, but is accessible only by ladder. The belfry window has been restored.
The battlemented parapet is later than the tower, built in the 15th century in Perpendicular style with crocheted spirelets at the angles.
THE INTERIOR
South Doorway
This is a 14th century doorway of the Decorated period. It has a hood mould above it, again with good head stops.
Tower Arch
Built in the 13th century, this is plain with no moldings.
Nave Arch
This is of the 15th century Perpendicular period. It is arch braced and the principal timbers are original with decorative bosses at the intersections.
There is no chancel arch, the break being formed by the lower ceiling and roof to the chancel.
Chancel
The roof here is modem and has been plaster-boarded in between the timbers. There are two windows on the south side which are probably original, with late 13th Century plain "Y" tracery (1280 -1300). The priest's doorway is contemporary.
The east end has, unfortunately, been heavily restored in brickwork, and it now has an extremely tall three light Victorian window, probably inserted at the time of the restoration in the 19th century. The original window was much wider, but not so tall, and the remains of the original sill can still be seen on either side of the present window.
There are no windows on the north side of the chancel, and there is no indication that there ever were any, and no sign of a doorway either.
There is a window seat (sedilia) under the south east window.
The piscina (basin near the altar) is from the 14th century with a trefoil arch with a foliage terminal over it.
Nave North Wall
This has a painting of St. Christopher which was uncovered during renovations in 1965. This is certainly not later than the 14th century, and could possibly be from the 13th century.
Font
This has a plain octagonal bowl dating from the thirteenth century. The large centre base stem is probably original, but the outer circular legs are modem replacements.
Pulpit and Prayer Desk
These are constructed with panels from the former Rood Screen, which was in the 15th century perpendicular style.
West Screen
Again this is constructed with tracery and panels from the Rood Screen, as is the decorative frieze along the top. On the wall above this are the Royal Arms of George IV (c. 1820).
Lectern and Nave Pews
These are all modem.
Chancel Stalls
These have splendid re-used ends with much carving and fine poppy heads. There are good figures on the arm rests, one of which is a priest holding a rosary.
Communion Rails
These are of the 17th Century with big balusters. The rail was renovated in 1994 in memory of Selina Barber who died in 1993.
Commandment Boards
These are placed on either side of the East Window, and are made of stone. They contain the Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer, and are modem.
The Attar
This is constructed from a door originally in St. Peter's Church, North Burlingham. It is very finely made from Austrian Oak and bears the text
"TILL HE COME" (1 Cor 11:26)
This is carved on the front edge of the altar and is gilded.
The altar frontals were presented to the church in the mid 1980s by Mrs Burrell.
Stained Glass
There are only two areas of stained glass in the church. one small canopy of 14th century glass in the centre light of the East Window, and another in the West Window.
Church Plate
1. An Elizabethan chalice bearing the engraving "LYNGWOD, 1567".
2. An Elizabethan paten.
3. A brass alms dish engraved
"In memory of Frederick Courtenay Burrough, Vicar 1922-30"
4. A silver wine decanter engraved
"Lingwood, Anno Dom: 1729
In Usam Sacramenti Altaris.
Ex Dono Gul: Heath Clcrici.
Hujus Parochiee Incolee."
5. An Italian silver Communion Bread Box, engraved
"St. Peter's, Lingwood
Presented in memory of Harry C. Tubbs
1896-1974"
Sadly, the plate is not usually on display.
Memorials
There are a few obvious wall-mounted tablets, especially the two war memorials on the north wall. One of these records the names of nine village men who died in the 1914-18 war. The other matching tablet records the names of ten village men who died in the 1939-45 war, two of whom are buried in the front of the churchyard.
Less obvious, but very interesting memorials are in the floor, behind the communion rail, under the organ, under the east end of the choir stalls on the north side, and under the carpet along the aisle.
There is also a memorial tablet to the Revd. William Hinder on the bookcase (by the entrance), another on a flower pedestal, and another on the folding screens (presented in 1977).
The bird doors in the porch have been recently donated, and a plaque is to be placed on these in the near future in memory of Stephen and Dolly Buller.
The Cross on the North wall by the pulpit was given in memory of Ivor Thomas Ronald Welch, Rector and Priest-in-Charge 1984-1993.
Records
The church registers date back to 1537 and, apart from the current registers, are deposited in the Norwich Archives.
The Churchyard
This contains graves going back over hundreds of years. All current burials are in the Cemetery, unless the deceased is interred in an existing family grave.
THE CEMETERY AND CAR PARK
The Cemetery and car park to the east of the church are the property of Lingwood Parish Council. The lychgate was erected in 1996 and dedicated in the same year.
THE LIVING CHURCH
Worship
The church building is used regularly for worship, at least once a week, with a variety of services.
The Churchwardens
Our two wardens carry the responsibility for maintaining the building and the churchyard. They also ensure that our services run smoothly and there are as few distractions to worship; possible.
ThePCC
This group of people have responsibility jointly with the incumbent for many of the decisions relating to the church. Recently they have spent a lot of time and effort on work related to our proposed extension of the building.
Church Members
Our church members both lead and take part in a number of activities connected with the church:
Butterfly Club is for pre-school children and their parents, which meets once a week.
Shipshapes is a practical teaching session for children and teenagers, which runs once a month on a Saturday afternoon with a further session the following Sunday morning. Holiday clubs are also run during the summer holidays.
Housegroups are run on a regular basis at various homes :he village.
Hymn singing takes place once a month at the Community Room at Homelea.
INCUMBENTS
We are unable to show a full list of Vicars of this Parish; for many years it was cared for by Vicars of Halvergate as can be seen by the title 'Perpetual Curate' :-
1768-1812 Thomas Goddard Perpetual Curate
1816-1844 Thomas Erasmus Goddard Perpetual Curate
1844-1846 Thos. Lyon Fellowes Perpetual Curate
1847-1880 Joseph Potter Perpetual Curate and first Vicar
1890-1909 Frederick Taylor Vicar
1909-1921 Wm. Henry Hinder Vicar
1922-1930 F. Courtenay Burrough Vicar
1931-1936 Verner M. White Vicar
1938-1940 E.H. Turtle Vicar and Chaplain to the Forces
1946-1950 Stanley Duthie Vicar
1950-1957 David Beavis Vicar
1957-1973 Henry Hunter Vicar
1973-1983 George W.GIew Vicar
1984-1993 Ivor Welch Priest-in-Charge and later Rector
1994-2006 Vivien Elphick Priest-in-Charge
2007- present David Wakefield
We hope that you have found this guide useful during your visit and would ask that, before you leave this ancient church, you would offer prayer for yourself, for those who worship here, for those to be baptised, married and buried here and especially for our outreach into the local community.
May God bless the time you have spent with Him in this building.