History of St Peter's Church, Battersea

In 1874 the riverfront in Battersea was a thriving industrial area filled with warehouses, docks, several mills and large factories for silk, starch, candles and other materials. Between the river and Clapham Junction grew streets of terraced houses for the local workers and their families. As a response to the growing population a temporary church building and school house were erected on a small plot of land on Plough Road.  At that time a local man, George Cubitt (born 4/6/1828) who later became the 1st Baron Ashcombe, gave £5000 for a permanent building and this paid for the construction of a larger church on the site. The foundation stone was laid on St Peter’s day, 1875. Consecration of the site took place exactly a year later. One description read: "This is one of architect White’s simple brick churches. The builder was Carter. The Church has a rather wide but short nave,  with an apse at the west end. There is only one window in the aisles, and the light comes from the clerestory, which is carried round the western apse as well. There is no chancel arch, and the chancel is of one bay only: On the south side is an organ chamber and vestry.  The glass in the eastern triplet is made by Heaton, Butler and Bayne; the glass in the east of the north chapel, by Clayton and Bell and the glass in the north of the chapel, by Tower." The tower was not part of the original building plan but was added later.  It was built in similar brick with a gabled spire and appeared large in proportion to the rest of the church. This was completed in 1911. (adapted from 'Parish Churches of London', Basil F L Clarke, Batsford, 1966)

For the end of the 19th and most of the 20th Century St Peter's Church continued to serve the local population that lived in the rows of terraced houses behind Clapham Junction, many of whom worked in the factories and docks by the river. The church building was used regularly as a place of worship for nearly 100 years. Sunday worship was a regular feature for local families who were often Baptised, Confirmed and Married under its roof.

In the late 1950's and through the 1960's the landscape around the church changed dramatically. The rows of terraced houses behind Clapham Junction were demolised to make way for the  construction of the Winstanley Estate and neighbouring housing estates. St Peter's once grand imposing spire now competed for dominance with the new high rise flats.

Tragedy struck in 1970 when the church was destroyed by fire on Bonfire Night. It is said that this was started by stray fireworks. Early reports of smoke from the building were discounted and soon the blaze had reduced the building to a shell. The tower and spire, which were seperate from the main church building, survived.

Poorly insured, the church was deemed beyond repair and site was temporarily desolate. The open space, by then a rare thing on the WInstanley Estate, found other uses including a make-shift adventure playground for local children

Thanks to the faithful help of the residents and congregation, St Peters continued to thrive as a local church. In order to contain the church's growing activities the Old School House, the Vicarage and the Tower were added to by the construction of a single storey building built in 1974. Given the lack of funds after the fire this was a rather modest building. It contained a meeting space for 60 people, a kitchen and communal space overlooking the park.

In reaching out to the needs of the estate a youth group run by Daphne Curate and others had over 200  members. The voluntary Youth Club catered for young people age 11-21 until the club finally closed in 2001.  The Parish continued among other things to maintain its traditional role training curates.  Many came and completed their training at St Peters. The last few to be remembered are Chris, Trevor, Sally and Christine.

The Tower remained a familiar feature on the landscape until in 1994 when severe structural problems in the brickwork forced a planned demolition.

In a huge undertaking the structure was carefully dismantled and the old St Peter's Bell and  Clock were removed before the final demolition could take place. However due to pressing lack of funds some of the demolition was not finished and a 15ft victorian wall remained on the site. Often after sunday services some of the congregation would put on hard hats and demolish the wall with pick axes whilst others salvaged the bricks!

Rev Michael Wimshurst was the vicar of St Peters through these changes. When he retired in the late 1990's the church faced an uncertain future. The  faithful ladies of St Peters helped to see off closure and merger during those lean times. Pictured on the right are Joyce, Daphne and Cecilia (still members!

The neighbouring Parish Church of St Mark's Battersea Rise, under the leadership of Revd Paul Perkin, came to the rescue and took responsibility for the struggling congregation. Paul had a vision to see growth in the area once again and sent a small group headed by Irene and Peter Wolstenholme to prepare the ground. Irene as Churchwarden consolidated the community taking on all roles necessary, including treasurer, administrator and pianist! In April 2007 a group of 19 adults from neighbouring St Mark's Church Battersea Rise led by Patrick Malone and his wife Mauvaine, joined the existing congregation. Their number has been added to by local residents and others keen to see St Peters witness to Christ in the local area once again. As before St Peters Church seeks to bring hope and lasting change to the diverse community that surrounds it.