A History of St. Peters at South Weald
The Porch
The porch dates from the restoration of 1868. it replaced an older, larger one which was removed. Canon Duncan Fraser, a former vicar, writing at the end of the 19th century, told of John Stutt, the Church Clerk of South Weald who died in 1855.
He used to conduct a school in the old porch and canvas screen and doors were erected to keep out the cold winds, a small stove was used and forms and desks put in place on Monday mornings and cleared away at the end of the week.
On his death, the Vicar, the Reverend Charles Almeric Belli, had a stone erected at his grave, which is near to the path from the car park entrance. Turn right after passing a bush, go up the bank and it is the second grave on the right.
Thank you to Bill Wilford for providing us with this article.