MERTON CHURCH

.........Front View	..........Rear View

Saint Peter's Church situated on the edge of Merton park, in its present form dates back to the 14th century,but some parts go back to the 11th century. With a Norman westen tower, containing 3 bells, it is thought that the base of the tower may be Saxon, and built in at least three stages. There are Norman shafts in the 13th century belfry , However most parts of the church is 14th and 15th century, the pews are of oak with carved poppy heads, and sitting for 160.

In 1889 a new organ was presented by Lady Walsingham. Many of the windows are filled with modern stained glass.
In 1885 Lord and Lady Walsingham erected a carved oak reredos with a representation of the last supper, as a memorial to the Rev'd George Crabbe .

In the porch of the church is a tablet in memory of the men of the parish who served and returned in the great war of 1914-18, Inside the church is a tablet to those of the parish who died in the 1914-18 war.In Nov 2002 a plaque which was dedicated to Leo Crane, a local man who died WWII, you can read more in the link from WWI.
A brass plaque holds the names of Israel Buckle head gardner & John Buckle head game keeper for the estate, these two brothers died within two months of each other in 1889. Another marble plaque is in memory to Henry Woods an agent for Merton for 40 years.

In the park once stood a oak tree of antiquity, which measured 23'4" in circumference at 6' from the ground, fell in January 1892 and proved to be very hollow.

The Lychgate (right) also a memorial to Rev'd Crabbe. Description :- A Lychgate is a covered open structure, found at a church gate. It normally consists of four or six oak posts embedded in the ground in a rectangular shape . On top of this are a number of beams to hold a steeply sloping straight pitched roof covered in wooden or clay peg tiles. Details :- The name is derived from the Saxon Lych meaning "corpse" and gate meaning entrance. Hence corpse entrance. Use :- The lychgates were built from about the mid 15th century. It was the custom at the time for priests to conduct the first part of the funeral service under its shelter, a momentary pause symbolized the transition from life to death. During medieval times the rich were the only people buried in coffins. The poor were carried to the lychgate and placed on a stone or wooden table covered in a shroud before burial.

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Below Various views taken 2001/2002.