Saint Peter's Church, Chester

Saint Peter's Church stands proudly on Eastgate Street in the heart of Chester, just north of Chester Cross. Designated as a Grade I listed building, it remains an active Church of England parish church, serving the diocese, archdeaconry, and deanery of Chester. Encircled by Chester's ancient walls, the parish boundaries echo the city's storied history.

The site has Roman roots, with parts of the church dating to that era. Tradition holds that Ethelfleda, Alfred the Great’s daughter, founded a church here in 907. The current structure showcases 14th-16th century craftsmanship, with later alterations. The tower, once topped by a spire, underwent several rebuilds due to lightning, with the spire removed around 1780. 19th-century restorations by James Harrison and John Douglas added a pyramidal slate spire.

Constructed of red sandstone, the church features a nearly square plan with a distinctive west-end embraced tower. The tower, capped with crenellations, crocketed pinnacles, and a slate spire, boasts a clock and a two-light bell opening. Access to the church is via seven stone steps on its south face, aligning it with the level of the adjacent Watergate Row.

The church features a continuous nave and chancel with four aisles, galleries over the outer aisles and west end, and a baptistry beneath the tower. Highlights include Cheshire's best-preserved medieval wall painting, three medieval corbels, a 1662 marble font, a 15th-century brass possibly depicting a lawyer, and 17th-century memorials.

The stained glass is a highlight, featuring an east window by Heaton, Butler, and Bayne (1863), pieces by Clayton and Bell, and a west window by Trena Cox. The Whiteley-built organ has two manuals, and the six bells include five from 1709 by Rudhall and one from 1921 by John Taylor. Parish records date back to 1559, though one volume (1686–1803) is missing. Saint Peter’s Church stands as a testament to Chester's rich history and heritage.