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History & Description of St Peters Church, Swingfield
The
Church of St Peter is to be seen in relation to the Commandery
of St John which stands across adjoining land, half a mile to
the north and is all that now remains of the Preceptory and Estates
of the Order of St John, (Knights Hospitalers). The original date
of the Commandery is unknown but judged to be early 12th century,
when it was used as a Preceptory and Convent for the Order of
Knights Templar, who were established in England in 1135. It was
in this period that the earliest parts of St Peters are thought
to have been constructed on a former Saxon foundation of which
nothing visibly now remains.
By
the command of King Henry II, in 1180 the Convent was moved from
Swingfield to Buckland-Sorum in Somerset and the Preceptory to
Templar properties in Dover & Temple Ewell. At this time the
Order of St John are recorded as taking possession of Swingfield
and the time when the Commandery began to take its present form.
(An extensive history of the Commandery and the Estates at Swingfield,
when in possession of the Order, is now held by them in England
& Malta. (The Commandery is currently in the care of English
Heritage).
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