Internal Photographs of St.Peters, Brighton.
The interior, which is very spacious, is equally splendid. The tower forms
a spacious porch, with a staircase on each side leading to the gallery. Beyond
this is an ante-porch or vestibule to the church, with a pointed door of entrance.
The aisles are divided from the body by five pointed arches resting on a union
of four cylinders, the exterior one rising to the clerestory, and terminating
in a foliated capital, which serves to support the groining of the roof. The
latter is plainly ribbed with bosses at the intersections, of foliage, etc.
Above the arches of separation of the nave from the aisles is a neat string
course, and above it the clerestory window, which is pointed, and has beneath
it two quatrefoil panels, with blank shields. One entire intercolumination
at the south end is occupied by a transverse gallery, which is continued on
the east and west sides of the church.
View of the chancel looking north
The supporters of the south gallery are made into three divisions, the two
lateral ones have depressed arches, the centre one is more pointed, with quatrefoil
tracery in the angles, and above it are three panels; the centre one has the
royal arms painted in an antique style, and the others have blank shields.
Beneath is the following inscription :
This church was consecrated on the 25th day
of January, 1838, by the Right Rev. Robert James Carr, D.D. Lord Bishop of
Chichester. H. M. Wagner, A.M. Vicar."
Also included are the names of the curate, evening lecturer, and the churchwardens.
Behind the south gallery, and considerably above it, is another, supported
by two clusters of small cylinders, in which is a splendid organ.
The semi-hexagon at the north end of the church is separated from the body
by an exquisite screen, at each end of which is a pointed entrance to the
vestry. Above this is a range of panelling, with cinquefoil heads, and an
enriched cornice of foliage work, with a finish of strawberry leaves set upright.
In the centre are three panels of dead gold, with the Decalogue, Lord's Prayer,
and belief, in antique characters, with initial letters in scarlet, and the
others in blue, the whole having the appearance of a Roman missal.
East aisle showing the fine gothic arches and windows
At each side of the tablets, and slightly projecting from the design is
a niche, or seat, with pinnacles at the angles ; the canopy is very beautiful,
with crockets, pendants, etc. The pulpit and reading desk are octagonal, and
each stands on a pillar formed by a union of several cylinders. They stand
on opposite sides of the middle aisle, according to the present fashion.
This church is richly ornamented with elegant painted windows; the centre
window over the communion table represents the four Evangelists with St. Peter,
to whom the church is dedicated. There is a window on each side, which, with
that in the centre, are executed in a superior style by Mr. Collins, an eminent
artist of the metropolis.
The whole were presented to the church by the munificence of the Rev. Henry
Michell Wagner, the vicar, in conjunction with his mother and sister. The
upper windows on each side of the church are by the same artist, and presented
by the same benefactors. They comprehend the Latin Te-deum in the church text.
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