PO18 9DR
/// armrests.broccoli.contoured
A small and unique church where Book of Common prayer services are held accompanied by a recently restored French harmonium. It is overflowing with history of the Civil War.
Though the mediaeval dedication is lost, the church is known today as St Peter. It is modest and stands by a few cottages. This little church existed in 1142, when Savaric fitz-Cane and his wife Muriel, daughter of Engelger de Bohun, gave the
The church consists of a chancel, nave with bell-cote and south porch. It is built of rubble, partly plastered, with ashlar dressing and is roofed with tile.
The roof is ancient but of uncertain date. Above the western tie beam on each side of the Royal Arms of George II, is woodwork of traceried cusps, sub-cupped, of uncertain date.
On the South side of the nave is a square-headed window of two semi-circular leaded lights, perhaps 17th Century; west of this is a plain-headed doorway of a later date. The West door and window are 14th Century. The font is tub-shaped, probably 12th Century but restored. There is one bell by J Warner of 1876.
To the left of the Altar is the tomb of Sir George Gunter, who died in 1624, and Ursula, his wife. Their kneeling effigies and the monument itself were recently re-painted while it was still possible to trace and reproduce the original colouring. Next to it is a marble bust of a later member of the same family, and to the West of this is a canopied table-tomb, probably commemorating John Gunter who died in 1557.
The Gunter family was linked with Racton for several centuries - the ruins of Racton Manor are still traceable. It was Colonel George Gunter who helped Charles II to escape from