Before 950: A settlement is established which was to become known as Cringleford. The village derives its name from the “ford” that originally crossed the river Yare just below the church and the ancient word “cringla” which means a round hill and is likely to refer to the rising ground upon which St. Peter’s church stands.

 

950-1100: The Saxon churches are constructed. St. Andrew’s, Colney still retains its distinctive round tower. At Cringleford, traces of the Saxon building may be seen in the decorated stones set in the walls above the font and the welcome desk. The deeply splayed windows in the chancel also reveal the earliest parts of the building to survive.

 

1252: The church lands in Cringleford are used to endow the newly

founded Great Hospital in Norwich. The Great Hospital remains

the patron of St. Peter’s church to this day.

 

c.1400-1500: Both churches are enlarged and assume much

 of their current outward appearance and the bells are hung in the

towers.

 

1549: As part of the Reformation the first Prayer Book is

introduced providing for public worship to be in English rather

than Latin.

 

c.1567: The Elizabethan Communion cup is presented to Colney

church. The earliest such gift to survive for either church, it remains

in use today.

 

1880-1906: At Colney, the chancel is restored and new choirs stalls are provided. Later the wooden screen and stained glass windows are given commemorating members of the Barclay family who lived at Colney hall. At Cringleford, the church is restored and extended by the edition of the south aisle. Many of the stained glass windows were also introduced at this time as was the organ and much of the interior furnishings.

 

1950-2005: The growth of Cringleford during this period is reflected in the building and extension of the nearby church hall and restoration is undertaken to the organ and church fabric. The village of Colney also sees considerable change with the arrival of the University of East Anglia and related developments. The church itself undergoes substantial restoration

 

1980: The parish of St Peter's, Cringleford is formally linked with the neighbouring parish of St. Andrew's, Colney.