| St Peter Mancroft, Norwich | |
St Peter Mancroft.
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| Country | United Kingdom |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Low Church |
| Website | www.stpetermancroft.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Norwich, St Peter Mancroft |
| Diocese | Norwich |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | The Revd Canon Peter W Nokes |
| Laity | |
| Organist/Director of music | Jody Butler |
| Organist(s) | Julian Haggett |
St Peter Mancroft is a parish church in the Church of England, in the centre of Norwich, Norfolk. It is the largest church in Norwich and was built between 1430 and 1455. [1] It stands on a slightly elevated position, next to the market place. [2]
St Peter Mancroft is a member of the Greater Churches Group.
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The present building was begun in 1430, on the site of an existing church, and consecrated in 1455. It is an ambitious building, 180 feet long and ashlar faced with a tower at the west end. [2]
It has a Norman foundation dating from 1075, a 1463 font, a 1573 Flemish tapestry, medieval glass and a memorial to Thomas Browne, author of Religio Medici.[3] The small lead-covered spire with flying buttresses was added by A.E. Street in 1896. [2]
St Peter Mancroft has a ring of fourteen Whitechapel bells in the western tower, eleven of which date from 1775 and the latest of which dates from 1997. St Peter Mancroft is important in the history of change ringing because in 1715, 5040 changes of Plain Bob Triples were rung for the first time, in 3 hours and 17 minutes, as recorded in an inscription in the tower. Subsequently, the first complete peals to the change ringing systems known as Grandsire and Stedman were also rung in St Peter Mancroft.
There was once a large male voice choir which disbanded in 2000, though music is still an essential part of worship with the majority of the services being sung by one of the choirs at the Church. The baroque style organ, one of the finest of its kind, means that St Peter Mancroft is also an exceptional concert venue with many concerts being held all the year round.
A new organ by Peter Collins was installed in 1984. The specification can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.