ST PETER'S:
A SAXON CHURCH IN WOOTTON WAWEN PART III

Much pre-Reformation restructuring took place in the church financed by a variety of church activities and by the Harewell family of Shottery. The maintenance of the chancel of St Peter's was the duty of the Harewells.

In recognition of the support of the Harewells there are two family tombs in the church, one of John Harewell who died in 1428 and the other, a descendant of his, also John Harewell, who died in 1505.

Left: the tomb of John Harewell (d. 1428). Right: the tomb of Francis Smith Lord of Wootton manor (d. 1604).

It was under the patronage of King's College, Cambridge that the church entered an important phase of restructuring. Work included the addition of the upper tower and spire, castellated nave and clerestory and rebuilding of the south aisle.

It was, however, during the 17th century the condition of St Peter's was precarious to say the least both the chancel and Lady Chapel were in need of urgent repair. However, by the eighteenth century, under the indefatigable vicar and doctor, Stanford Wolferstan much restoration work had been carried out.

Restoration was continued well into the 1880s by the architect George Gilbert Scott and the church was completely restored by the end of the century.

Richard Smith-Carington and his son Herbert Hanbury both made significant contributions to the restoration of the church Richard was responsible for the restoration of the tombs of the Harewells and his son financed the west window of the nave.