Hopefully this page will provide you with a guide to St Peter's Norton Disney, why not print it out and take a stroll around the church.

If you stand with your back to the door then you are facing the North Aisle.

North Arcade: the columns are Norman, arches later, Early English 13th Century, when the roof was raised.

Font: octagonal, deeply carved 14th century.  This is the bowl used to hold the water for baptism, the formal way we are made a part of God's church, as a baby or as an adult.

Pews: 18th century box pews, missing their doors.  These are from a time when more comfort was looked for, doors kept out the draughts.

Mortuary Chapel and Monuments (behind organ): This area is now used as the vestry or robing room.  This chapel dates from c1350 and was designed as the burial place for the Lords of the Manor, hence the title and monuments.  The windows on the left as you enter are  the oldest in the church, probably the original ones, note the very old remnants of coloured glass in them.  The chapel would have had an altar against the east wall originally so that masses for those buried here could have been said to hasten them to heaven as was believed then.

to the left as you enter is a recessed effigy of a lady in coiffe & wimple with chained dog at feet.  This i sprobably the founder of the chapel Joan D'Isney.

above this is probably the most interesting monument in the church.  The brass plate is in two pieces, the second piece being in West Lavington Church Wiltshire.  The reverse of the brass has an inscription commemorating the founding of a chantry in Holland in 1518.  The face has been used to commemorate two generations of the Disney family in the 16th century - see the full guide for details.

next on the left in the corner is a square tomb which once had a brass inset of a knight with crossed legs believed to be Joan's husband, Sir William.

to the right, between chapel and chancel a knight in effigy on an altar tomb.  He is in complete armour with sword and buckler, hound at his feet.  Thought to be Sir William, son of the founder.

on the coffin shaped tomb raised from the ground beside the altar tomb a lady, cut from the stone forming the lid.  At its head a canopy with elliptical recess, at its feet a droopy eared lap dog.  The inscription reads 'here lies Joan, wife of Sir William Disney and daughter of Sir Nicholas de Landford' presumably the wife of the first Sir William (above).  Her dress suggests she joined a religious order in widowhood.

the effigy in the centre of the chapel of a lady in close fitting habit with small buttons down the centre is late 14th or early 15th century.  Head supported on two small cushions, hair close cut in net.  At head and feet chimera with outstretched paws and either side an angels with folded wings.  Inscription tells us this is Hautacia, daughter of William Disney.

go back past the organ, turn left to screen entrance to:

Chancel:c1350 This part of the church was and is the most holy, being where the bread and wine of communion are blessed and consecrated.  It is very much the priest's area or 'official Church' area, hence the insertion of a screen to separate it from the community's gathering place, the nave.

screen: plain and of the decorated period, originally this would have been gloriously painted and gilded.  The rood loft above has gone without a trace, presumably during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.  Remnants of the rood stair can be seen behind the pulpit.

windows: facing the altar, the two windows to your left are late decorated style with small remnants of original stained glass.

east window: straight ahead over the altar is 19th century and the glass likewise.

chancel pews: note the old poppyhead bench ends with interesting and strange carving.  The bench seats are later.

Sanctuary rail: design is Jacobean (c 1600).  They are very high, perhaps banister rails discarded by the Disney family at the nearby Manor House. They are probably the original 'Laudian Rails' ordered to keep the communion table separate from the dogs and secular usage until it was brought down into the chancel during the communion service as was the practice then.

Communion table: probably of the same age as the rails.

wall monuments: on the south wall a marble tablet by Westmacott to the 4th Viscount St Vincent who died at the battle of Abou Klea in Egypt 1885.  The east window by Powell & Sons is also in his memory.

The Nave: This is the peoples' part of the Church where they have always stood or sat as they took their part in worship and as we do now.  Believed to be the earliest Norman work, 11th-12th Century.

pews: plain carved oak pews from c 14th Century.

pulpit: used for preaching from, pulpitum means a 'speaking platform'.  This one appears likely to be made from part of the old 'High pulpit with sounding board over' referred to by a late 19th Century incumbent - this was probably the traditional 'three decker' pulpit which provided a stall for parish clerk, one for the incumbent all surmounted by the pulpit.

South Chapel: This chapel dates from c 1450 note the intricately carved corbels by the east window.

Polish memorials: these are to pilots who died flying from our local airfield.

Nave - Royal Arms of George II.

Tower: first stage dates from c 1350 (see mortuary chapel & chancel), upper stage & elegant pinnacles from c 1450 (see South chapel).

Bells: there are six bells, see details in main guide.

Look back from the door and enjoy the vista and depths of this interior before exploring the churchyard with its interesting old stones.  Note the bronze sundial on the South side of the chapel and the 'mass' dials one to the left of the chancel door, the other over the bronze dial.

For problems or questions regarding this web contact Ian Middleton.