Fundraising Launch and Open Day at St. Peter’s Church Fugglestone on Saturday July 19

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 06:00

The Sunrise Project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund, is holding an open day at the small & beautiful 13th century. St Peter’s Church on the edge of Wilton to raise funds for its restoration.

The church is famous for George Herbert who was rector until his death in 1633. He was a well-known poet and penned the lyrics to such hymns as “King of Glory, King of peace” and "Let all the World in every corner Sing".

St. Peter’s church has one of the few working hand-pumped pipe-organs in the country, set in a small gallery above the nave. It will played during the launch day by Ben Maton, a well-known local organist. Ben is an organist, composer and journalist for Choir & Organ magazine but most of all a YouTuber, exploring English country churches and sharing their stories online.

This is a unique glimpse into the past, showing how the people of Fugglestone have come together to sing and worship through the ages.
The open day will begin at 10.00 am with coffee and tea, followed at 11.15 am by an update on the project by Samantha Holland-Bunyan, theatre director, writer, actor and artist. This will be followed by an address by John Glen MP at 11.30 am, who is an advocate in Westminster for church restoration. There will be a repeat of the project update at 1.30 pm.

Trustees will be available throughout the day to answer your questions.

Today, the church is very rarely open for public access or use: currently, there is no water, electricity or heating. The goal is to restore the church to its former glory as a place of worship while expanding its facilities to make it available for wider use by the community as a centre for celebrations, the arts, and music.

Throughout the day, there will be self-guided history tours, a children’s hunt, and one-of-a-kind gifts that mark the launch of this project. On display will be an Elizabethan silver tankard, gifted to the church in 1776 by John Hawes. Other entertainment activities are planned throughout the day, including Morris Dancing. Coffee, tea and cakes will be available for refreshment.

The Sunrise Project asks you to come to the open day on Saturday, July 19th, and lend your support to the restoration of this historic Church for continued worship and wider use by the Community. The church is located at the South East corner of the Wilton Roundabout on the A36.

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