St Peter's Church, Leicester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church, Leicester |
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St Peter's Church, Leicester
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| 52°37′48″N 1°06′59.9″W / 52.63000°N 1.116639°W | |
| Location | Leicester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Peter |
| Consecrated | 16 April 1874 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | George Edmund Street |
| Groundbreaking | 1872 |
| Completed | 1879 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Parish of St Peter Highfields, Leicester |
| Benefice | Benefice of St Peter Highfields and St Philip's Leicester |
| Deanery | City of Leicester |
| Archdeaconry | Leicester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leicester |
St Peter's Church, Leicester is a special old building in the Highfields area of Leicester. It's a parish church for the Church of England. This church is also a "Grade II listed" building, which means it's important and protected because of its history and architecture.
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The first stone for St Peter's Church was put in place on November 14, 1872. A bishop from Peterborough did this special ceremony. The church was built to remember a person named Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe. Because of this, it was first called the Howe Memorial Church. A famous architect, George Edmund Street, designed the church.
The church was officially opened and blessed on April 18, 1874, by the Bishop of Peterborough.
Challenges and Repairs
Over time, the church building faced some problems. In 1968, the tall spire had to be taken down. By 2014, parts of the tower and roof were in very bad shape. The church was even put on a list of "Buildings at Risk" because it needed so much repair.
Good news came between 2018 and 2021! Money from the Heritage Lottery, Leicester City Council, the Diocese of Leicester, and the church itself helped pay for big repairs. The tower, its roof, the stone parts, and the main roof were all fixed.
The Church Organ
The church has a large pipe organ that was built in 1875 by Joshua Porritt. This amazing musical instrument was later updated in 1910 by Stephen Taylor and Son.
Organ Players
Many talented people have played the organ at St Peter's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- William Henry Wale (1874 - 1882)
- Philip Angrave (1882 - 1891)
- Cardinal Taylor (1891 - 1894)
- Walter Joseph Bunney (1905 - 1936)
- Harold Barnes (1937 - 1946)
