Buildings & Grounds
St. Peter is located on Ripon’s Gothic Mill Pond. One of the finest pieces of property in Ripon, it was designated to be the site of St. Peter by Michigan Territorial Governor and Wisconsin Secretary, John Scott Horner. He was an early Anglican settler and instrumental in the founding of the city of Ripon. He named Ripon for his ancestral home in Ripon, Yorkshire, England. He additionally assisted in the establishment of Ripon College.
The Nave seats 200 people with a choir area in the sanctuary. The Nave is enhanced by several life-sized German hand carved wooden statues. Our organ is a Marshall-Lancaster pipe organ built in England and received in 1864. The organ has been extensively rebuilt twice and has been filling the church with glorious sounds since it’s installation.
The main office and rector’s offices have been extensively remodeled this past year. We have two large meeting areas: the Parish Hall (formerly the parish school) which is located on the main level, and Brown Hall (the remodeled undercroft) which is located on the lower level. Adjacent to Brown Hall is the certified commercial grade kitchen and lounge area. A portion of Brown Hall is our ancillary chapel.
To the north of the parish hall is a two-story limestone rectory built in 1901. The first floor has a spacious foyer, two formal living rooms, formal dining room, modern kitchen and a half bath. The second floor of this lovely home contains four large bedrooms, 3/4 bath, full bath, laundry facility and attic access. The large back porch affords a scenic view of the Gothic Mill Pond with the comforting sounds of the water falling over the dam. On the street side of the rectory is a lovely stone carving of Christ as the Good Shepherd.
Around the entire church property are memorial gardens, including a rose bush that was transported westward in a Conestoga wagon. We are in the process of planning placement of a columbarium on the church property.
St. Mary Chapel in Wautoma is located 38 miles northwest of Ripon on the shoreline of scenic Bugh’s Lake. It was extensively renovated in 2006-07 making it more suitable for year-round use. It is a setting which makes the congregation feel connected to their fellow worshipers and the beauty of nature.