People from 5 different churches, collectively serving the communities of
Glinton, Peakirk, Northborough, Maxey, Deeping Gate and Etton
Parishes
Non plaudite. Modo pecuniam jacite.
St Peter's, Maxey
The earliest work of the church is dated about 1113A.D. However, fragments of tombstones excavated in the churchyard and preserved in the church (the Sweeting museum) reveal that a Saxon church existed on the site of the present Norman building, without a tower. The original church as above, and the village was burned by the Danes in 1013. The church was sufficiently repaired to allow worship to continue, until rebuilding of the church began a century later.
St Benedict's, Glinton
The church here is a beautiful, striking, structure with its 140 foot needle spire dominating the flat landscape for miles around. The "Peasant Poet" John Clare immortalised the church in his poem "Glinton Spire". Perhaps less romantically, the British Listed Buildings entry for the church here describes the church as having a ‘disproportionately tall octagonal recessed spire’.
St Stephen's, Etton
The present structure dates back to the 13th century, but there is a record in the Peterborough Chronicle of a church being here in the 12th century. The existence of the sheela Na Gig, which I will talk about in a few minutes, certainly suggests that there was a previous structure here!
The church that we see today consists of west tower with spire, nave with north and south aisles and clerestories, south porch and chancel.
St Andrew's, Northborough
The church that we see here today consists of nave with north and south aisles and clerestories, south porch, very large south chapel and chancel. The western end of the church is supported by four buttresses; the two to the north and south run part way up, to just below the roof level of the aisles, but the innermost two supports up to the belfry stage.
St Pega's, Peakirk
The church is named after St Pega. She was the sister of Guthlac, who set up a hermitage in the Peterborough fens. Pega built her hermitage in imitation of her brother. Guthlac and Pega came from one of the great noble families, and it seems as if Pega received a grant from the King to set up her hermitage. It is said that the current church at Peakirk is built on the site of Pega's retreat. Interestingly, the history books state that Pega sailed up the river Welland to attend her brother’s funeral, and healed a blind man from Wisbech on the way.
This church was built in the 11th Century, and the dedication to St Pega is a unique one. A north aisle was added in 1170, with a south aisle added some 50 years later.
Other Ministries
The benefice benefits from a variety of other ministries which includes Messy Church, Benefice in the boozer, Tea on a Tuesday, Thought for Thursday, school outreach and many more......
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