A History of St Peter's Church, Withington

By The late Reverend J C Williams

Withington and its manors are mentioned in the Domesday Book (1085 – 1087), the name being spelt “Withingtune”, and there was almost certainly a Saxon church on the site.  

The Nave and Chancel were built in the late 12^th century, the evidence being the thickness of the walls and the 12^th century doorways (the north one is now blocked).   The Tower and graceful Spire were added in the 14^th century.  

The windows date from the 13^th century onwards, whilst the Chanel Screen is of the 15^th century.   In the south wall of the nave is a Piscina of the late 13^th century (used for cleansing the sacred vessels after Communion) and nearby an unusual recess of the same date.  

In the Chancel there is a brass tablet to William Saxeye (1612), a Chief Justice in Ireland under Queen Elizabeth 1.   There are also chairs dating from 1626 onwards.   The Communion Table is mid-17^th century.  

The steps and base of the churchyard Cross are of the 14^th or 15^th century, and the Lych gate (which has been restored) probably dates from the 16^th century.  

John Phillips (1676 – 1709) author of “Cyder and other verse, lived at Withington Court and has a monument in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey.   The grave of his friend and contemporary, William Broome, was recently discovered east of the Chancel.   He lived at Eau Withington.  

A Processional Cross in wrought iron with silver inserts representing the crucifixion nails was in recent years placed in the Chancel in memory of the Reverend J C Williams.