St Peters Bocking, sometimes known as St Peters in the fields, is the parish church for over 12,000 people in Braintree and Bocking. The church building is located near to Causeway House and the Public Gardens. Although unusual in appearance from the outside it has a number of fine features including stained glass windows by Walker and the Kemp school, a screen carved by Beckwith and a sculpture of St Peter by John Doubleday
The cost of building the Church was funded from a bequest from Miss Frances Wakeham who died on 14th March 1893. Miss Wakeham left £4,500 towards the building of a second Church in the Parish of Bocking. The design is by Victorian architect John Micklethwaite. Work began on 8th June 1896 and the nave, chancel and vestries being the completed first parts were consecrated by the Bishop of St. Alban’s (the Rt. Revd Dr. John Wogan Festing) on 18th June 1897
Originally St. Peter’s was conceived as a single building to seat 300 people. However, it was felt that due to a possible increase in population, the Church needed the facility to be converted to seat 600. The early finances of the Church were such that the Church was often in debt and so no money could be raised to finance the building of a larger Church. To this day the Church has not been finished and just consists of the nave, chancel and vestries. The side aisles which were part of the original plan have never been completed
This is by a very well known maker of stained glass – Leonard Walker – and was dedicated on 27th May 1926 by the then Bishop of Colchester and is in memory of the Revd H J Shildrick, the first Vicar of St Peter’s (1897 – 1926), and his wife and daughter;
and to the memory of the 26 men of the parish who died in the Great War;
and to the memory of the late H Tetley, formerly managing director of Courtauld’s.
It shows in its main panels: Christ Crowned in Glory, surrounded by angels;
and from left to right: St Paul, St Peter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St John, and St George.
Underneath the window is the War Memorial naming those lost, and given by W F Crittall.
It is significant that 2 of the great Braintree and Bocking employers of past years are thus represented in our window and memorial!
At the time, Leonard Walker was renowned for his use of colour, and a revival of the more ancient effects created in coloured glass, which was considered by some to have been lost in the rather duller effect of more traditional, Victorian glass – as per our East Window – still nice, but maybe not so vibrant.
To find the hide you will need to gather some information
(A) To the right of the church how many bollards can you see
(B) To the rear of the church how many round windows can be seen
(C) How many bollards can be found above the car park
(D-I) By the church door what date can be found when seated
N51 5F D+H C-E A-H E00 3C F E+H G
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