Church of St Peter, Shirwell

[3] The two yew trees opposite the south porch were thought to be 13th-century, making them as old as the oldest part of the present church on the site.

However, a survey by the Yew Tree Campaign states that they are actually 1,500 years old which means they probably date to a church on the site which predates the present one.

[4] - The church is built with coursed shale rubble with freestone dressings and with windows of Hamhill stone and a slate roof.

[5][7] In this font was baptised Saint Cuthbert Mayne (1544–1577), the first English Roman Catholic "seminary priest" to be martyred under the laws of Elizabeth I.

[9] The church underwent a Victorian restoration in the Perpendicular style including most of the fenestration and a vestry by the architect William White between 1873 and 1889.

[10] In the North transept is a rare 15th-century wooden arch and rough-hewn timber pier of square section as if for a hagioscope from the nave.

[5][11] In a recess with quatrefoil decoration in the North chancel wall is an unrestored 15th-century effigy of a lady, possibly of Blanche St. Leger (d. 1483) on a tomb chest.

[1] Here also is a memorial plaque to the aviator and sailor Sir Francis Chichester, who was born in the Rectory in the village and who is also buried in the churchyard.