St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Gosberton
The pulpit was placed in the church in May 1897, the gift of a Miss Hudson, who may or may not have been a relative of the then incumbent Vicar, Reverend Edgar Torr Hudson. The pulpit capped what had been a two year restoration of parts of the church.
Hexagonal in shape, it is made of five solid oak panels, four of which each bear beautiful and intricate carvings of a Saint. They are said to represent Saints Peter, Paul, Aidan and Augustine. Saints Peter and Paul, after whom the church is of course dedicated, are easy to spot, based on the standard ‘attributes’ associated with them for centuries: for St. Peter, the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and for St. Paul the sword and the book. These attributes decorate a number of areas in the church (as you would expect).
The base upon which the pulpit stands is also worthy of note. It is made of Frosterley marble, coming from a quarry at Frosterley in County Durham. The marble is unusual, being a black limestone containing crinoid fossils. When, as here, it is cut and polished it looks stunning. Frosterley marble was a much sought after material for church decoration, as well as stately homes, in Victorian times.
