In the middle of a deserted airfield, St Peter’s of Haveringland church stands in splendid isolation. However there used to be Mountjoy Priory one mile to the south-west, and more recently, to the north-east, a very large mansion, built in 1852 and demolished in 1946. 

The appearance of the church has changed considerably since our penultimate visit in October 2009. Not only that, but while it had always been locked in the past, it is now open during daylight hours.

This is due to the fact that it had been awarded around £260,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other grants to carry out an extensive programme of repairs and improvements, including disabled access, an automatic door locking and opening device, sound system, welcome area and heritage interactive screen, heating and improved lighting, a water supply and equipped vestry utility area.

Works were carried out between autumn 2023 and spring 2024, so that we were able to admire the results in May 2025. It has now a fresher and brighter feeling than ever before.

In the 1820s this Church was depicted as having no chancel, no south aisle nor transept. A very major restoration took place in 1858, when all the new walls were faced with cut flints and all the windows were renewed. Only the north nave wall might be medieval, but it has 19th century buttresses. The round tower dates back to the 11th century, with its round-headed belfry openings with flint jambs, though the arches were renewed in the 19th century. There are also three more round-headed openings with flint and tile heads, and flint and ferricrete jambs. The parapet, with cut flint panels, is 19th century. Inside, the tower arch is tall and narrow, and the only dressed stone is used in the imposts.

The font stands at the west end of the north aisle and has a 14th century bowl, with simple trefoil arches, set on a 19th century stem. The south transept contains benches, one with the shield, a lion’s head, of Lord de Ramsey 1925. There is also nearby a very large stone in the floor, with an indent of a knight in armour and a carved inscription for Sir Roger de Bylney circa 1330.

The other transept has a fine 17th century carved chest, and near the organ a bench end with a kneeling figure on its top end. On the wall behind the organ is a brass memorial for Alice, †1561, the wife of John Day, with a shield showing the many heraldic-quarterings of all his and her family connections.

There are carved stone angels on corbels supporting the chancel arch, and more corbel heads for the wall posts. The 19th century reredos fills the entire east wall of the chancel, and contains panels showing the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Creed.