Sharnbrook Church Architecture

Church from south east, March 2014

Sharnbrook is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the oldest parts of St Peter's Church date from the 13th century.  The arcades of the nave, the outer walls of the aisles and the chancel arch are of 13th century date.  The Tofte chapel on the north side of the chancel, the north and south porches, and the lower stages of the west tower date from the 14th century. In the 15th century the spire was added, the north aisle extended westwards and the window tracery throughout the church was mostly renewed in the Perpendicular style. The building is on a sloping site so the chancel is lower than the nave.  The church is mostly built from Limestone rubble with some ashlar.

There is a stone font with Perpendicular decoration which dates from the 15th century. The screen dates from c.1500 and there are fragments of carved tracery in the screen to the north chapel. There is a 14th century 3-stepped sedilia and piscina in the north chapel. There is a 17th century Boteler memorial in the north chapel and a Magniac memorial by William Burges from 1867.