Architectural Features
The two western bays of the aisles were added in the 3rd quarter of the C12.
The eastern bay on each side is early C13.
The NE chapel is early C15, as are the tower buttresses and W window.
EXTERIOR Long and low, externally the church is almost entirely C19 and C20 in a successful, if overly smooth, medieval style that copies many of the features replaced in the rebuilding.
The C19 chancel and Lady chapel are in a C13 style with lancet windows and a S door with a hood mould to the Lady Chapel.
The C19 S aisle has C15-style windows and a steeply pitched roof.
The wide N aisle of 1907 has a lower pitched roof with a plain parapet and largely C14-style windows, including a pair of two-light openings at the W end and reticulated windows in the N wall.
The N chapel is C15 and has a pair of two-light windows with vertical tracery.
The C19 N vestry was extended N in 1965-6 and is also in a C13 style with lancets and twin gables.
has massive C15 buttresses, an embattled parapet and a low, pyramidal roof topped by a tiny spike.
the W door is also C15 and has continuously chamfered mouldings and a label.
INTERIOR Internally, the church retains much medieval fabric of interest.
The nave arcades were extended at their E ends in the C13 and again in the C19.
The first two bays from the W are mid C12.
The third bay from the W is early C13 and has a pointed arch of two hollow chamfered orders
The easternmost bay on the N side is C19 in a C15 style with polygonal responds with moulded capitals
it opens into the C15 NE chapel.
The western two bays are also mid to late C12 and are similar to those on the N, but the responds and pier capital have stylised leaf forms.
The third bay, also with former long responds converted to piers on both sides, is like that on the N. The eastern two bays on the S are C19 in a C13 style and have chamfered, pointed arches with a central round pier with a moulded capital.
The NE chapel has a heavily restored C15 window of three lights with vertical tracery that now opens into the organ chamber.
The nave ceiling appears of late medieval/early post-medieval date.
The C19 chancel arch is in a C13 style, with an inner order on half-round responds with moulded capitals.
The chancel N door, now opening to the N vestry, is C14, very rebuilt.
The cornice has demi-figures of angels, and there are good ironwork gates.
Reredos in a very elaborate Victorian Gothic style with two tiers of relief carving amidst tracery, large polygonal corner buttresses and an openwork cornice.
Three seat sedilia in a Decorated style with trefoiled arches on marble shafts and carving in the spandrels.
The chancel dado has blind tracery panelling, rising higher behind the altar, and the sanctuary walls were painted by Rich with figures of saints and scenes in ogee niches, with a row of angels above.
The pulpit has a polygonal stone base and a timber top section with alternating open tracery and carved figures
the timber lectern has figures and relief carving.
The rood figures are by Martin Travers and were installed in 1946
Some C15 glass, including figures and canopies reset in the N aisle.
Some good C19 and C20 glass, including the W window and a window of 1917 by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
HISTORY There was a church at Bexhill long before the Norman conquest, when it was a minster or small collegiate church serving a large area of territory.
The two western bays of the N and S arcades were added to the nave in the mid-late C12, with that on the N being slightly earlier.
In the early C13, the third bay of the nave arcades were added on both sides.
Also in the early C13 the chancel was rebuilt
The foundations of an earlier, probably C12, apse were seen during the C19 rebuilding work.
The NE chapel was added in the C15 as the Batesford chantry
also in the early C15 a now demolished chapel was added at the E end of the S aisle, massive buttresses were added to the tower and the W window and W door were remodelled.
SOURCES Lambeth Palace Library, ICBS 08186 Early C19 watercolour copied in National Monuments Record Buildings of England Sussex 415-6 Bexhill Parish Church of St Peter: A Brief History and Guide REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The church of St Peter, Bexhill, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Parish church with W tower of c1100, C12
C13 nave arcades,
C15 upper stages to tower. * The work of c1100 is particularly interesting. * Rebuilt and enlarged to designs by William Butterfield, the church contains a fine collection of C19 fittings and furnishing and a good decorative scheme in the chancel of 1893. * Further enlargement in 1907. * Interesting late medieval/early post-medieval ceiling to nave. * Excellent Anglo-Saxon carved grave cover.