William Bernard Petre, 12th Baron Petre

William Bernard, 12th Baron Petre (20 December 1817 – 4 July 1884) “a pattern of charity and piety”, was an enthusiastic builder of churches. To a greater or lesser extent, he was responsible for new churches in Brentwood, Chipping Ongar, Barking, Romford and Chelmsford and a mortuary chapel (designed by William Wardell, a pupil of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin) in the grounds of Thorndon Hall (dedicated on 11 September 1857, and used last for interment in 1965), as well as twice extending the chapel at Ingatestone Hall, which then served as parish church for the locality.

He was a son of William Henry Francis Petre, 11th Baron Petre and his first wife Frances Charlotte Bedingfeld (1796–1822).

His maternal grandparents were Sir Richard Bedingfeld, 5th Baronet and his wife Charlotte Georgiana Jerningham. Charlotte was a daughter of Sir William Jerningham, 6th Baronet and Frances Dillon.

The senior Frances was a daughter of Henry Dillon, 11th Viscount Dillon and Lady Charlotte Lee. The senior Charlotte was a daughter of George Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield and Frances Hales. The eldest Frances was a daughter of Sir John Hales, 4th Baronet.

William Wardell went to Australia at the age of 32 because he had tuberculosis. He designed many buildings there including the St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. In testimonials to Wardell, Lord Petre expressed confidence in him, and noted his “acknowledged position in the first rank of England’s architects”.

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