After more than 600 years crowning Sudbury’s Market Hill, the medieval church of St Peter was in great danger and looking friendless. In 1958 St Peter’s was the subject of a “Brief report upon the structural defects requiring the most urgent attention”. Timber had “split alarmingly” and “cavities extend right through the thickness of the wall”. Arches were “opening up”. Strangely, the town did not rush to save the building.

Ten years later, an even more dramatic report warned of imminent collapse of the upper part of the tower. The local press was stung into action and sought opinions from the townsfolk. 112 inhabitants wanted the church to be demolished, but the building had some friends and 188 folk thought it should be kept. 25 respondents dithered.

There were proposals for demolition and replacement by a small garden; underground public toilets; a modern community hall; a car park; extending the market. One town councillor advocated taking off the roof and leaving it to become a “noble ruin in which people could eat their
sandwiches”. Another suggestion was to demolish the building and replace it with an exact fibreglass copy. Facing objections that people would be unable to go inside, the proponent added “hardly anyone enters the present church anyway.” He had a point.

But money was raised in the town, work was undertaken, the tower was reinforced with concrete ring beams. Perhaps a brighter future beckoned…

Just three years later, the church was closed for worship and locked up. There followed further talks on demolition.