Historic Churches of Buckinghamshire
St Peter, Ilmer
Important Church Note: | Ilmer is also known as Longwick-cum-Ilmer |
Denomination: | C of E - Aylesbury Deanery |
Local Authority to 2020: | Wycombe District Council |
Local Authority UA: | Bucks UA (North West Chilterns) |
Building Location: | Ilmer (3 miles NW of Princes Risborough) |
Nearest Post Code: | HP27 9RA |
O/S Map Reference/NGR: | SP 76928 05491 |
Latitude & Longitude: | |
Church Web Site: | |
CofE ACNY Web Site: | |
For details of this church on our "Stained Glass of Buckinghamshire Churches" website, please click here
| Notes on Stained Glass: | The church has 4 stained glass windows, with 3 of them being Nuttgens windows. One is from 1933 by J E Nuttgens, and 2 later ones are by his son J A Nuttgens. |
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| Introduction to Church: | The small church still has clear evidence of its Norman origins. Much of the fabric dates from the 13C and 14C, and there is fine later medieval work in the form of the timber framework that supports the belfry and now the spire as well. The Nave and Chancel are not divided by an Arch, but by a fine medieval stone and timber screen. The Chancel was largely rebuilt c1860, but medieval features have been preserved by the restorer George Edmund Street who added stone and timber furnishings in his own solid style. |
| Notable Features: | | 12C | 12C Norman Doorway (now blocked). Was original S doorway |
| c1350 | Piscina. |
| 14C | Font, has been modified since being made. Cover is late 17th Century. |
| 15C | Sculpture on Window Seat. St Christopher and Trinity. |
| c1500 | Bell Tower Support Framework. Timberwork at W end of Nave. |
| c1500
| Chancel Screen. Wooden screen on a stone wall. |
| 18C | Pulpit. Possibly now on a later stone base. |
| 1860 | Reredos. Made of Bournemouth stone inlaid with Porphry and Marble. Designer was George Edmund Street. |
| 1860 | Clergy Seat & Desk. was George Edmund Street. |
| 1860 | Tiles in Sanctuary. Part of G E Street's restoration work. Maker was Minton. |
| 1909
| Spire. Added in 1909 to Bell Tower of c1500. |
| 20C | Lecturn. Copy of Lectern in Eton College Chapel. |
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An Illustrated Article about St Peter's Church, Ilmer - Page 2 of 3
Index of Main Topics Included:
Interior
Looking down the church, we see the Nave and Chancel are firmly divided by a Chancel Screen, but it does have good views through it. We can also see that the Nave and Chancel have very different roofs. There is no stone Chancel Arch, but a timber one at the end of the Chancel Roof, and directly over the Screen.
The timber roof of the Chancel dates from the 1860 restoration by George Edmund Street. However the Nave roof must be much older, but is hidden by plaster, something that was often done in the 18th Century. The only visible part of the Nave roof structure is the very large timber tie beam across the centre of the Nave, which carries a Crown Post.
In a wider view, we see more of the plastered Nave Roof, and the Crown Post on top of the centre of the Tie Beam.
A closer view shows the massive Tie Beam carrying the Crown Post which supports the central purlin, and 4 diagonal braces from the Crown Post stabilise the whole roof structure.
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Despite the virtual rebuilding of the Chancel in 1860, George Edmund Street left plenty of detail of the mediaeval work, particularly in the windows, as can be seen below.
Piscina
Piscina and SE window, which has a dropped sill, to incorporate a sedile, or seat.
This similar window, in the NW corner of the Chancel, has some very unusual late 15C sculptured panels at the base, which is also a seat.
However, the two scenes are not exactly easy to interpret, and have caused some confusion in the past.
LH Sculpture portrays St Christopher
RH Sculpture portrays the Trinity.
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Chancel Screen
The Chancel Screen is oak, probably from around 1480 to 1520 with a central arch, and 5 bays on each side which unusually rest on a stone-built wall.
The central arch is four-centred, with an 8 bay arcade above.
The 5 bay side arcades have cinquefoiled round heads, and tracery with roses above.
As we would expect, the "back" of the Screen has slightly plainer decoration.
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Through the screen is a glimpse of the Tower Supporting Framework at the West end of the church. It and other furnishings are shown on Page 3.
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Historic Churches of Buckinghamshire
All photographs by Michael G Hardy unless stated otherwise
©2017-2026 Michael G Hardy
