Newton Bromswold, St Peter

For those who enjoy visiting churches “ off the beaten track “ this is certainly for you. Set in the flat verdant landscape of East Northamptonshire / West Bedfordshire this church presides over a hamlet of less than 100 people. It sits in what is almost a garden which has become famous for it’s annual displays in the Spring of fritillaries and cowslips. Not surprisingly it has won the Churchyard Conservation Competition 12 times. You will find a useful leaflet in the church giving information on the plants and birds to be found here. Also check its website for details of the annual display www.newtonchurch.co.uk . For those visiting, the hamlet still supports a good pub the Swan. Approaching the building you encounter an irregular medley of medieval architecture – a steep roofed chancel, a battlemented nave and a tower with one of those slender spires you find in this county. Internally it still speaks of pre - reformation times – remains of 15th century stained glass (especially good is the head of the young bishop, probably St Hugh of Lincoln. He and his crozier peep out at you). A very good 14th century plain font with an unusual spikey cover reminiscent of a hedgehog and beautiful tracery patterns to it’s base. Of slightly later in date are the brasses to the Reverend William Hewitt and presumably his son Roger who are both Rector and Chaplain here. In the chancel a plain Jacobean table as altar with good stained glass window above by A L Moore, circa 1900 given to the church by Mrs William Ager. The screen dividing the chancel from the nave is a 1st World War memorial by Talbot Brown and Fisher. One good monument to Henry Lambe (d. 1727) by the good local man John Hunt of Northampton. When you finally leave you will have a pleasant winding journey back toward Higham Ferrers.