[NZ 04926142] St Peter's Church [TU]. (1)

St Peter's Church formerly belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Durham. The oldest portion is the north wall of the nave with its original windows which cannot be later than the end of the 11th century.
About the beginning of the 13th century the present chancel was erected. According to a statement in the Lanercost Chronicle the church was burnt in 1285. The tower was constructed c.1310 and a chantry chapel on the north side of the nave, also towards the beginning of the 14th century. The chapel on the south side of the church was originally a chantry dedicated to St John the Baptist and was founded in the latter half of the 13th century. (2)

The pre-Norman church extended westwards to the limit of the tower and its foundations are visible north and west. This end of the church was destroyed in the fire of 1285 which devastated the village of Bywell.
Roman stones are built into the walls of the church. The north chantry, built about 1350 by Ralph de Nevill was the parish school till 1849. The church was restored in 1848-9 and 1873; the chancel in 1876. (3)

Church in use. (4)

Condition unchanged. (5)

Additional bibliography. (6)

Consecration of Bishop Egbert at Bywell St Peter's in AD 803 implies it was a minster. Traces of porticus overlapping junction of nave and east arm are recorded. Pre-Danish date suggested architecturally. (7)

One of two churches in Bywell, both Anglo-Saxon origin. Presumably built to serve two Anglo-Saxon estates based in the village. Not much is left of the Anglo-Saxon church but indications suggest it was a major building. Height and thinness of the nave walls provide a clue to its age. The nave was over 60ft (19m long). Four windows in the north wall, one has been altered but the others have monolithic heads and thin strip-like jambs. Blocked flat-headed doorway of early character in north chancel wall, probably 8th century. Probably the church in which Egbert was consecrated 12th Bishop of Lindisfarne in 802. (8)

Tentative evidence for early lateral porticus claimed at Bywell St Peter. One of about ten churches with evidence for a western annexe. (9)

Sketch of c.1800 shows St Peter's once stood on a prominent earthwork. Later landscaping has brought the level of surrounding meadows up to the level of the top of the earthwork. Along with the many reused Roman stones incorporated in St Andrew's [NZ 06 SW 10] and stray Roman finds around, it is suggested that the earthwork on which St Peter's stands is a Roman fort. (10)

Church consists of massive 13th century west tower, nave with south aisle and north chapel, 13th century chancel with modern vestry on north. Tower is built partly on and partly within the former nave and overlies some Anglo-Saxon foundations. Evidence for Anglo-Saxon character [examined in detail]. Anglo-Saxon fabric in north wall of nave and western parts of chancel walls. (11)

Repair works in January 1995, which included the underpinning of the west wall of the vestry (an 1849 addition) and stripping of plaster from a section of the north wall of the chancel, resulted in a watching brief. The underpinning revealed the massive footings of the Saxon chancel in contrast to the shallow footings of the 19th century vestry. Inside the church, the removal of some plaster revealed a vertical joint between the original Saxon chancel stonework and the later, 13th century, extension which doubled the length of the chancel. The original Saxon chancel would have measured 4.8m long by 4.2m wide internally. (12)

Church contains a pair of war memorials as:
* a wall-mounted brass plaque inscribed "TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF/ JOHN JOSEPH LAURENCE PUMPHREY/ OF HINDLEY HALL, IN THIS PARISH/ TROOPER IN THE NORTHUMBERLAND YEOMANRY/ WHO DIED AT YPRES IN OCTOBER 1914/ OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION/ ON THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER, AGED 23".
* a wall-mounted brass plaque inscribed "IN MEMORY OF/ GILBERT ATKINSON/ LIEUT. 9TH DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY/ BORN IN THIS PARISH 8TH JAN. 1883/ IT IS TO LIFE AND NOT TO DEATH THAT OUR BELOVED GO". (13)(14)

Additional sources. (15)