St Peter

GE Street (1824-1881) was one of England’s most eminent Victorian ecclesiastical architects, whose most well known building is the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The Leicester Journal in 1874 wrote of St Peter’s that it 'is satisfactory proof how much real beauty is independent of elaborate detail construction and lavish ornament and how much charm can be thrown over a comparatively plain and simple building by the harmony of its proportions'. 

Over the years functional changes have been made to interior layout of the church including a glass and wooden partition which divides the nave, and temporary additions, which challenge the simple beauty of the church construction. The once affluent area served by the church is now one of the most deprived, and this has taken its toll on the building which we are now slowly repairing and refurbishing.

The Old Hall to the north of the church was constructed shortly after the church in the late 19th century and is a valuable Victorian building in its own right. The more utilitarian New Hall was constructed in 1979. The wonderful 1910 organ, utilising the original casings of 1870s organ, was built by Stephen Taylor & Son, who also built the superb De Montfort Hall organ. Stephen Taylor & Son were based in Severn Street in Highfields. It is currently awaiting repair.

The church is blessed with furniture and artefacts influenced by the arts and crafts movement, including the choir stalls and the Whalley east window. As a community, the church welcomed the African Caribbean (Windrush) community and, to this day, is very heavily influenced by the African Caribbean heritage.