St Peter's Church, Main Street, Higham on the Hill

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 4 Aug 2021

Grade II* parish church. The nave of the church was rebuilt in 1790/1 by H Couchman. It was refenestrated in 1854 when a south aisle and porch were added by Ewan Christian. It has a single-bay chancel of 1870 by R. Jennings of Atherstone replacing Couchman's apsidal sanctuary. The present Norman tower was built 1130 to 1180 and is reportedly one of the oldest in the country. The Borough Council area management plan states that the 'steeple was removed in the last war as it was considered a danger to aircraft flying from Higham Airfield' and historian Arthur Tomlin claims that a wooden spire with lead covering originally topped the tower but during the reign of Elizabeth I it became unsafe and was taken down. The church is dedicated to St Peter which suggests that it may have been founded by the Saxons. To substantiate this claim, early burials under the floor of the tower indicate Saxon origin. The set of six bells were re-hung in 1924. The oldest G# bell dates back to about 1510 and the A# bell was cast in 1589. The lichgate was built in 1939.

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