Religious sites Berkhamsted

the anglican parish church of st peter s, berkhamsted, established in 13th century

the oldest extant church locally st mary s in adjacent village of northchurch. between 1087 , 1104, there reference chaplain called godfrey , chapel of st james parochial status within st mary s berkhamsted s parish. chapel situated close st johns, located close st john s lane, base small community of monks, brotherhood of st john baptist, in 11th , 12th centuries.

during king john s reign, geoffrey fitz peter, instrumental in foundation parish church of st peter, , in 1222, robert de tuardo, registered first known rector. because of church s proximity berkhamsted castle, reigning monarch patron of berkhamsted rectors several centuries. in 1648, st peter s church requisitioned during english civil war general fairfax military prison hold soldiers captured siege of colchester. poet william cowper christened in st peter s, father john cowper rector.

the parish church of st peter, 1 of largest churches in hertfordshire, stands on high street. church in latin cross plan, 85-foot (26 m) clock tower @ crossing , measures 56 yards (51 m) west door east window, , width across transepts 30 yards (27 m). oldest part of church chancel, dated @ c. 1200; in english style common in period. further additions made until 15th century; in 1871, underwent restoration william butterfield. there 2 altar tombs alabaster effigies dating 14th century: tombs of knight (thought henry of berkhamsted, 1 of black prince s lieutenants @ battle of crecy) , lady. there 2 other anglican churches in town – st michael , angels (sunnyside)(original building 1886) , saints church & st martha s (built in 1906, cater growing population in west end of town). in 1842 detached churchyard st peter’s church established, using land rear of egerton house (where rex cinema stands) on rectory lane. expanded 3.275 acres , phased out of use in 1976. in 2016 friends of st peter’s berkhamsted received £907,000 in grant heritage lottery fund , big lottery fund national lottery (united kingdom) - 1 of 12 sites across country sharing £32m. grant restored heritage features , create new green community space in town.

the town has strong non-conformist tradition, in 1672 survey found there 400 anglian conformists , 150 non-conformists in berkhamsted, when such beliefs bring foul of law. baptist community in berkhamsted, dates 1640 making 1 of oldest nationally; first gathering in secret, built large chapel in 1722, , moved current place of worship @ junction of ravens lane on high street in 1864. quaker community present in town second half of 17th century, opened meeting house in 1818 on high street opposite st john s lane. congregationlists can traced 1780, worship combined presbyterian church @ st andrew s united reformed church on corner of castle street , chapel street. methodists arrived hundreds of men came build railway, via various places of worship, today share saints church anglians. evangelist (latter day saints) began life has part of plymouth bretheren, hope hall opened in 1875, rechristened kings road evangelical church in 1969. roman catholic tradition 17th 20th century appears limited, general de gaulle worshiped @ original church of sacred heart in park view road, moved larger modern church in 1980 on park street.

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