There has been a church on this site, we believe, since Saxon times and St Chad is thought to have preached here. The base of a preaching cross was found in the middle 1980’s during work at the back of the church and is now in the Church Hall garden.

The present building is Victorian, the sanctuary was rebuilt during l974/5 after a fire, and the tower is the oldest part and a well known landmark for miles around. It dates from the 14^th century.

You will notice as you stand in the forecourt, the site of the old Victorian Vicarage, that the west door, ringing chamber and clock, are not in line. It is thought that the tower was built over a period of 200 years and when the Black Death of 1348 killed many of the craftsmen of Harborne, the tower was finished by unskilled workmen.

There are leaflets in the church giving a comprehensive guide round the church, pointing out many historical features and items given in memory.

There is a Nadfas Record of Historical Artifacts 2009 for St Peter's and this can be viewed by request.

History of St Peter's Church DVD

Re-live important events in the life of St Peter's from 1962-1991 on this compilation DVD, filmed and edited by Brenda Durbin. Events include the installation of the new bells, the story of the weathervane, the aftermath of the fire and the refurbishment of the tower. The price is £15, sold in aid of Church funds.
If you would like to order a copy please contact the Parish Office.

The cockerel weathervane

Petertide decoration in the porch

The Font is in the traditional place at the church entrance

The North Aisle

The remains of the ironwork taken from the grave of the blacksmith A F Hill (1883) who made the gates of the Houses of Parliament. Tools of his trade can be seen in the ironwork.

The Lady Chapel is used every morning for Mattins, Tues and Wed mornings for Holy Communion and on Saints Days. It is also used by parents with noisy children during services as it is soundproof.

The Pulpit given in memory of J Chatwin and J Stokes 1885. There are seven sculptured marble and alabaster figures: St Peter, St Paul, Jesus, St Matthew, St Luke & St John.

The Sanctury

One of the six angels
above the Sanctuary

The Sanctuary Lamp given in memory of EJ Adams in 1952

The Chancel and Sanctuary were refurbished in 1995 when the altar was moved back to the East End and a new communion rail was installed in memory of Stephen and Dorothy Lloyd (daughter of Mrs Neville Chamberlain who is buried in the churchyard).

The East Window, the centre panel of which is in memory of David Cox, another Harborne artist, buried in the churchyard (see the David Cox page).

Victorian tiling in the Sanctuary

The Lectern, dated 1874, was given in memory of Charles Hart.

South Organ Area

The picture of St Peter,
painted in 1972 by Dawn Cookson,
a pupil of Annigoni.

Stained glass window in memory of William Westley Manning 1866

The organ, installed by Messrs Hawkins in 1975 and built to the specification of George Miles who was organist at St Peter's for many years. (See more details and specification of the organ).

South Transept

One of four Charity Boards
dating from 1715

This window is in memory of Anne Roberts, widow of the Revd R J Roberts, Vicar 1883.

The South Aisle

The Counsell Window in memory
of Simon Counsell who was killed
in a road accident at the age of 6.
His father, Michael Counsell, was Vicar at St Peter's before Revd Jo Evans.

In the Churchyard