​Toller porcorum parish church

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The Parish Church has stood since the 13th century on a hill at the centre of the village visible to the widespread community. Built of local stone probably by local men it has served the community for generations as a place of worship, remembrance and hope. A focus for Toller Porcorum and all the settlements around that have been there through history. 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:18–20)

The church in Toller Porcorum is named for St. Peter and St. Andrew who were among the first disciples of Jesus.In the Gospel of Matthew and in the Gospel of Mark, Simon Peter and Andrew were both called together to become disciples of Jesus and "fishers of men". These narratives record that Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, observed Simon and Andrew fishing, and called them to discipleship.

St. Peter is the patron saint of fishermen, locksmiths, builders/stonemasons, ship builders and sailors, shoemakers, those with foot ailments, the papacy, and the Universal Church.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen and singers. He is also the patron saint to several countries and cities including: Scotland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Patras.
It is not known why the church is dedicated to these particular saints but maybe it has to do with the adjacent river Toller (now the river Hooke) and its wide flood plain that would have afforded plentiful fishing in ancient days.

Th painting 'The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew' is dated at around 1604 and is by Caravaggio. It can now be found in the Royal Collection at hampton court​