St Peter's Church, Forncett

St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church, Forncett St Peter's, Norfolk
St Peter's Church
Location within Norfolk
52°29′26″N 1°11′15″E / 52.49056°N 1.18750°E / 52.49056; 1.18750
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
Websitewww.forncett.info/forncett-churches/st-peter.html
History
Founded11th Century
DedicationSt Peter and St Paul
Architecture
Heritage designation
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameChurch of St Peter, Forncett
Designated7 December 1959
Reference no.1152619
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseNorwich
ParishUpper Tas Valley All Saints
Clergy
Priest in chargeRevd Lydia Avery

St Peter's is one of seven churches in the parish of Upper Tas Valley All Saints in south Norfolk, ten miles south of Norwich, UK. The full name is St Peter's and St Paul's, commonly known as St Peter's, and this was formerly the parish church for Forncett St Peter. It is an active place of worship and a nationally significant Grade I listed building. Its Anglo-Saxon round tower, built about 1000 AD, is considered one of the best in the country. There are other Anglo-Saxon features. Much of the main building is of later, mainly 14th and 15th century, date. Significant features are: the 1485 Drake tomb, a unique ancient staircase in the tower, carved pew ends, fine ledger slabs in the chancel and nave, good examples of Victorian coloured glass windows, and the ring of six bells. There is a comprehensive modern guide to the church. There is a connection with William Wordsworth: his sister, Dorothy, lived at the rectory from 1788 until 1794 with her uncle, the rector, William Cookson.

The church is on the Heritage at Risk Register. There is critical need for repair and a programme of renovation. A community group, The Friends of St Peter's, was set up in 2019 to lead a major fund-raising campaign.