The Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea, is a Christian church dating from the years 660–662 and among the oldest largely intact churches in England. It is in regular use by the nearby Othona Community, in addition to Church of England services. It is a Grade I listed building.
According to Bede (who wrote his history in the early 8th century), a 'city' named Ythanceaster existed on the River Penta.[2] The Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall was almost certainly originally built by Bishop Cedd in 654.[1] It was an Anglo-Celtic church for the East Saxons, set astride the ruins of the abandoned Roman fort of Othona. The current structure was most likely built around 654–662, incorporating the Roman bricks and stones. In 653 Cedd travelled south from Lindisfarne to spread Christianity at the behest of Sigeberht the Good, then King of the East Saxons, and, having been ordained as a bishop, returned the next year in order to build the chapel, and probably others too. Following the death of Cedd in October 664 from plague, the chapel became part of the Diocese of London.[3]
From the side
No further record exists of the chapel being used until 1442, when the local clergy reported to the Bishop of London that it had been expanded slightly, with a small tower above the porch with a bell in it. However they did not know of its origins and it was unusable, having been burnt. It was repaired and returned to regular use alongside the parish church in Bradwell-on-Sea until at least the Tudor period (16th century) before falling into disuse as a church again and being used as a barn—the position of the wide barn doorway, now filled in, can be seen on the south side of the nave.
In 1920 it was restored and reconsecrated as a chapel. It was designated as a Grade I listed building in 1959.[1]
In May 2023 a book entitled St Peter-on-the Wall Landscape and Heritage on the Essex Coast was published. It reflected concerns over the planned Bradwell B nuclear power station, which it was feared would damage the local environment and the setting of the Chapel.[4]
Current useedit
The chapel belongs to Chelmsford Cathedral and is looked after by the Chaplain, the Revd Steven Poss, Rector of the parish church of St Thomas Bradwell-on-Sea, and members of the church. Regular public services are held in the chapel each week with a Thursday morning Communion service at 9am. Special services are held at Christmas and Easter. In the summer evening services are held each Sunday in July and August at 6:30pm.
The chapel and adjacent field are the home of the Bradwell Pilgrimage, held on the first Saturday in July. The procession starts at the Parish Church of St Thomas and the pilgrims walk to the Chapel of St Peter's, where services and events are held.
The chapel is also used by the nearby Othona Community. Founded in 1946 by Norman Motley, rector of St Michael, Cornhill, 1956–1980, this Christian-based community is open to people of all faiths and none.[5]
In 2018 the chapel was the location for two music videos by the boys' choir Libera.[6]
"'Bradwell-juxta-Mare', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 4, South east (London, 1923), pp. 13-16". BHO. University of London. 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
Information from Essex County Council about St Peter's Way, a long distance path through Essex to the chapel.
Information and illustrations of the chapel from An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex, Volume 4, South east (London, 1923), published by British History Online.
January 01, 1970
chapel, peter, wall, bradwell, christian, church, dating, from, years, among, oldest, largely, intact, churches, england, regular, nearby, othona, community, addition, church, england, services, grade, listed, building, 73536, 93994, 73536, 93994locationessexc. The Chapel of St Peter on the Wall Bradwell on Sea is a Christian church dating from the years 660 662 and among the oldest largely intact churches in England It is in regular use by the nearby Othona Community in addition to Church of England services It is a Grade I listed building Chapel of St Peter on the WallChapel of St Peter on the Wall51 44 07 N 0 56 24 E 51 73536 N 0 93994 E 51 73536 0 93994LocationEssexCountryUnited KingdomDenominationChurch of EnglandWebsitewww wbr bradwellchapel wbr orgHistoryStatusActiveArchitectureFunctional statusChapelHeritage designationGrade I listed buildingDesignated30 December 1959SpecificationsOther dimensionswall thickness 2 5 feet 0 76 m 1 AdministrationDioceseDiocese of ChelmsfordParishlooked after by the parish church of St Thomas Bradwell on Sea Contents 1 History 2 Current use 3 Footnotes 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Interior view According to Bede who wrote his history in the early 8th century a city named Ythanceaster existed on the River Penta 2 The Chapel of St Peter on the Wall was almost certainly originally built by Bishop Cedd in 654 1 It was an Anglo Celtic church for the East Saxons set astride the ruins of the abandoned Roman fort of Othona The current structure was most likely built around 654 662 incorporating the Roman bricks and stones In 653 Cedd travelled south from Lindisfarne to spread Christianity at the behest of Sigeberht the Good then King of the East Saxons and having been ordained as a bishop returned the next year in order to build the chapel and probably others too Following the death of Cedd in October 664 from plague the chapel became part of the Diocese of London 3 nbsp From the side No further record exists of the chapel being used until 1442 when the local clergy reported to the Bishop of London that it had been expanded slightly with a small tower above the porch with a bell in it However they did not know of its origins and it was unusable having been burnt It was repaired and returned to regular use alongside the parish church in Bradwell on Sea until at least the Tudor period 16th century before falling into disuse as a church again and being used as a barn the position of the wide barn doorway now filled in can be seen on the south side of the nave In 1920 it was restored and reconsecrated as a chapel It was designated as a Grade I listed building in 1959 1 In May 2023 a book entitled St Peter on the Wall Landscape and Heritage on the Essex Coast was published It reflected concerns over the planned Bradwell B nuclear power station which it was feared would damage the local environment and the setting of the Chapel 4 Current use editThe chapel belongs to Chelmsford Cathedral and is looked after by the Chaplain the Revd Steven Poss Rector of the parish church of St Thomas Bradwell on Sea and members of the church Regular public services are held in the chapel each week with a Thursday morning Communion service at 9 am Special services are held at Christmas and Easter In the summer evening services are held each Sunday in July and August at 6 30 pm The chapel and adjacent field are the home of the Bradwell Pilgrimage held on the first Saturday in July The procession starts at the Parish Church of St Thomas and the pilgrims walk to the Chapel of St Peter s where services and events are held The chapel is also used by the nearby Othona Community Founded in 1946 by Norman Motley rector of St Michael Cornhill 1956 1980 this Christian based community is open to people of all faiths and none 5 In 2018 the chapel was the location for two music videos by the boys choir Libera 6 The chapel is the end point of St Peter s Way a 45 mile 72 km footpath starting at Chipping Ongar 7 nbsp View southward along the coast near the chapelFootnotes edit a b c Historic England Chapel of St Peter on the wall 1110942 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 23 January 2024 Bede 2008 p 146 The Fort of Othona and the Chapel of St Peter on the Wall Bradwell on Sea Essex booklet available at the chapel itself St Peter on the Wall edited by Johanna Dale UCLPress 2023 ISBN 978 1 80008 437 7 The Othona Community s Beginnings Othona Retrieved 25 March 2019 In Paradisum solo Rocco Tesei and Lacrymosa solo Alex Gula and Leo Barron Libera Official 2018 YouTube The St Peter s Way PDF Essex County Council Retrieved 23 January 2024 References editBede 2008 c AD 731 McClure Judith Collins Roger J H eds Bede Ecclesiastical History of the English People Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 9780192838667 Bradwell juxta Mare in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex Volume 4 South east London 1923 pp 13 16 BHO University of London 2017 Retrieved 24 March 2019 Historic England 2012 St Peter s Chapel Bradwell on sea Grade I 1110942 National Heritage List for England retrieved 24 March 2019Further reading editArchaeologia London Society of Antiquaries of London 1866 pp 439 452 OCLC 844712047 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Peter on the Wall Bradwell on Sea Information and a selection of photographs from the Anglo Saxon Churches in England website The chapel as depicted on the map series OS 25 inch 1892 1914 published by the National Library of Scotland Information from Essex County Council about St Peter s Way a long distance path through Essex to the chapel Information and illustrations of the chapel from An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex Volume 4 South east London 1923 published by British History Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chapel of St Peter on the Wall amp oldid 1211671245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
