St Peter's Church, Petersfield

A chapel of ease was originally built, and called 'St. Peter's in-the-veld' (veld - meaning an open and clear place), within the manor of West Mapledurham (later Buriton). Although the town around the chapelry soon grew larger than that around the main church, St Peter's remained a chapelry to Buriton until 1886, when it became a separate parish. Since 1984 the two parishes have been held in plurality, so the Vicar of Petersfield is now also Rector of Buriton. St Peter's was originally a Norman building; the north and south aisles were added at the end of the 12th century. The tower was raised to its present height during the 14th century and a parapet added. During the 15th century,…

St Peter's began as a cruciform shape to which a tower was added soon after construction. The chancel arch has two orders, one ancient and one from the 1873 restoration. It has two transepts, the south of which was used as a chapel, there being a 13th-century piscina in the wall. Each transept has different pillar capitals. The local squires, the Jolliffes, had a gallery for their own use situated in the south-west corner of the church. There was a major fire in 1962 after which the timber above the south side aisle had to be replaced.