SS. Peter and Paul, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Description
The church of SS. Peter and Paul is an ancient cruciform structure in mixed styles, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of four bays, aisles, north and south porches, transepts, and a low embattled western tower containing 6 bells, the earliest being dated 1603: the tower was originally Early English, but has been much modernized; in 1906 it was repaired and a new bell frame provided: the pers and arches of the nave are Decorated, with moulded caps: there are various inserted Perpendicular windows, and the clerestory is also of that date; on the north side of the chancel. about 7 feet from the ground, is an arcade of Pointed arches with small detached pillars: there are mural tablets to the Bois and Dormer families, 1637-1729, one of which exhibits a figure of Time over a circular arch, composed of books: the east window is a memorial to G. Carrington esq. and was erected by his widow, who also placed one in the chancel to her father and mother: in the south transept is a brass with demi-female effigy and inscription, and also a female effigy, c. 1450; there is a brass in the north transept to the Rev. Joshua Greaves M.A. vicar 1854-85, and a memorial window to Frances Sarah, his wife: a stained window was inserted in tbe north transept by the Herbert family in 1914 in memory of their relatives: there is a mural tablet to Lady Warmington (d. 1913) erected by her husband, Sir Marshall Denham Warmington, 2nd bart.: the brass lectern was presented in 1905 by the Armitage family: the word Deus is scratched on a stone in the soffit of a 14th century doorway opening from the chancel to the north Vestry: between this door and the aumbry is a large hagioscope, and there is another between the chancel and the south transept, and adjoining it a two-light low-side window, which now contains fragments of ancient stained glass: the chancel is paved in part with ancient encaustic tiles found, with but few exceptions, in the Abbey grounds, the remainder being reproductions: the font is Norman: the church was in part restored in 1899-1900 at a cost of £3,800, the north aisle being practically rebuilt: the church affords 450 sittings.
Church Records
The parish register dates from the year 1694; burials from 1678.