The West Window St Peter’s Church Woodmansey
St Peter’s Church Woodmansey
The East Window St Peter’s Church Woodmansey
A Short History of the Church
Since 1898 St Peter’s church has been a centre for Anglican worship for the residents of Woodmansey and the surrounding area.
For much of the Nineteenth Century, Anglican Church services for those living in Woodmansey were conducted in the Methodist Chapel at Thearne. The first Anglican centre of worship in Woodmansey was the present school, built in 1856. It is still possible to see, from the picture below, how a large part of the building still retains the appearance of a chapel. This building was used for services on a Sunday and served as a school during the week.
This arrangement however doesn’t appear to have been entirely satisfactory and in the 1890’s Mr William Bainton of Beverley Parks provided for the building of a church on land on the opposite side of the road. Mr Alfred Beaumont was appointed as Architect and Mr George Pape as the builder. Work commenced on the church in 1896, with Miss Eleanor Bainton laying the foundation stone on 9th July of that year. As was the custom at the time the foundation stone contained a glass bottle holding a few coins. The stone was laid using a silver trowel on which was engraved an outline of the church and also a mahogany trowel presented by Mr Pape.
The Church was finally consecrated on 9th December 1898 by the Archbishop of York, with many local dignitaries being present. The Church is now a prominent local landmark on the main road through Woodmansey and continues to serve the local community.
St Peter’s holds services of worship each Sunday morning and is regularly used for baptisms , weddings funerals and for school services and provides an essential meeting place to celebrate religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter. It also acts as focal point for those wishing to remember the passing of loved ones and the sacrifice made by local residents in wartime, holding an annual Armistice Day service and act of remembrance at the cenotaph, opposite the church.
St Peter’s Churchyard is recognised as a designated commonwealth war grave site, containing graves of members of the armed forces, a number of which are remembered within the church.