St Peter's Church, Hereford

St Peter’s Church in the middle of Hereford claims to be the oldest parish church in the city. Despite its age and collection of historical styles and features, its nave is populated by grey, plastic chairs and banners of a decidedly evangelical or charismatic provenance.  

Online sources speak of its founder, Walter de Lacy, who accidently fell off the tower of St Peter’s, which was then called St Guthlac’s, in 1085, while inspecting building progress. The present tower looks too late for the eleventh century, but the tale reminds us that even the richest, most powerful people will leave behind all they have when they come to enter eternity. His being up there might  have been because he was checking quality, or might he have been a latter-day Nebuchadnezzar, gloating over the great Hereford he was helping to build?

Whether his motives were good or ill, the great God summonsed him to give account. We may not go falling off towers, but each one of us shall join him, sooner or later.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12

Thank God for Jesus, our Saviour.