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St Peter's Church, Caversham facts for kids

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St Peter's Church
Tower on St Peter - geograph.org.uk - 2807259.jpg
St Peter's Church tower
St Peter's Church is located in Reading, Berkshire
St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church
Location in Reading, Berkshire
51°28′6.84″N 0°58′50.86″W / 51.4685667°N 0.9807944°W / 51.4685667; -0.9807944
Location Caversham, Reading
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Website stpetercaversham.org.uk
History
Founded 1162
Dedication Saint Peter
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade II*
Style Norman
Administration
Archdeaconry Berkshire
Diocese Oxford

St Peter's Church is a special church in Caversham, a part of Reading in England. It belongs to the Church of England. You can find it near the River Thames in an area called Caversham Heights.

What is the History of St Peter's Church?

St. Peter's Church, Caversham, 1800-1809
St Peter's Church from the south, around 1800-1809

This church is very old! It was first built way back in 1162. Imagine all the history it has seen!

How Was the Church Damaged in the Past?

During a big fight called the Siege of Reading in 1643, soldiers used St Peter's Church. Some soldiers, called Royalists, put their troops inside the church. They even placed a cannon on top of the church tower!

The other side, called the Parliamentarians, used their own cannons. They fired at the church and destroyed its tower. The church building itself also got damaged during this battle.

When Was the Church Tower Rebuilt?

After the battle, the church tower was first replaced with a simple wooden one. Much later, in 1878, a new part was added to the church on the south side. At the same time, the church got the strong tower you see today.

This tower has eight bells. The oldest bell is even older than the tower, dating all the way back to 1637! In 1916, the church got back its full rights to manage its own affairs.

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