St Peter’s Church is a distinctive building on
the east of Eaton Square. As well as a place of worship, it holds a series of
classical music concerts in spring and autumn. The church also makes its
excellent facilities available for a wide range of social, educational,
charitable, cultural and commercial activities.
The church is Grade II* listed and the entry, at English Heritage website (visit
link), reads:
"Church 1824-27, classical Commissioners'
church by Henry Hakewill, roof and interior restored, with minor alterations,
1837 by Charles Jearrad and J.H.Hakewill following fire. 1873-5 recasting by
Arthur Blomfield, chancel of 1873, nave with Romanesque interior 1875, destroyed
by fire 1987, refitted 1988-91 by the Braithwaite Partnership. Yellow stock
brick, ashlar, stone dressings. Basilica, pedimented west portico, narthex
carrying tower and cupola, rectangular nave, chancel with small north and south
transepts, flanking chapels. Hexastyle Ionic portico, with plain entablature,
after the west portico of the Erectheum, set on 4 steps, surmounted by pediment.
Pilasters at rear angles, 3 tall doorways with moulded architraves, flat
cornices on carved brackets, each with pair of doors with fielded panels.
Coffered ceiling. Tower set on wide stylobate with tall plinth forming clock
stage, each face with a clock. At bell stage, louvred round arched opening
flanked by Ionic half columns with pilasters at the angles. Cupola set between
pedimented blocks at the angles and surmounted by gilded metal cross. 5 bay
return elevations, brick with stone dressings, the nave with 4 tall round headed
windows linked by moulded stone bands, with plain rectangular lights with clear
glass. The narthex, articulated by pilasters, breaks forward slightly, with
slightly battered lower rectangular window and upper circular light.. Pedimented
attic in stone, with plain recessed panel. Plain cill band, broken by the
pilasters, simple entablature. North and south transepts and chancel 1873 by
Blomfield, stock brick, in Romanesque manner, but echoing the style of the
original church. Pedimented transepts with north and south entrances set between
angle pilasters. Each with pair of doors beneath tympanum with circular glazed
feature, under semicircular brick arch. Small roundel to each side. Above, three
round-arched windows, defined by pilaster strips, linked by continuous moulding
above, corbel table below. East and west elevations similar round-arched
windows, two simple round-arched openings below. Tall round headed window
echoing those of the nave, with open pedimented niche below. South chapel range
of 5 round headed windows, stained glass intact, circular window above. East end
not visible. Interior. Narthex part remodelled after fire. Open well south stair
of stone with iron balustrade. Former stair to north removed. Nave entirely
remodelled 1990 lowering ceiling and obscuring internally remnants of
Blomfield's chancel except for part of sanctuary and south chapel, now sacristy
and vergers' room. Blind arcade of green reeded marbled piers enclosing mosaic
of Christ in Glory. Open arcade to left, formerly above sedilia, of annulated
marble shafts, links to south chapel. South chapel lined with alabaster sheets,
engaged marble shafts at chapel's sanctuary support moulded timber arch of
timber barrel vaulted roof. Pair of round arched lights flank upper circular
cinquefoiled light, with moulded arch on short shafts. Glass probably by Clayton
and Bell. 5 south windows under marble arcade with engaged shafts, glass not
attributed. Mosaic floor with monogram and keys of St. Peter. Monuments. George
Howard Wilkinson, Bishop of St. Andrews, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal
Church, d. 1907, by W.R. Lethaby, recumbent figure in Bishop's robes, in marble
on stone base. Victor John Fergus Ferguson, d. 1896, Major, Royal Horse Guards,
stone tablet with a cross, sword and shako above, shield of arms below, signed
Gaffin, Regent Street. Mary Georgiana Cathcart, d.1852, stone stele with lily in
relief at the top, signed Bedford, 256 Oxford Street. Harold Wingfield,
Midshipman,on H.M. S. Newcastle, drowned in the China Sea, 13 Decr. 1870, blue
glazed tiles in lunette."
The church's website (visit
link) lists the times of services:
"Sundays
8:15 am - Holy Communion (1662 Book of Common Prayer)
10:00 am - Family Eucharist
11:15 am - Sung Eucharist
Weekdays
Monday to Friday:
7:30 am - Morning Prayer
12:30 pm - The Eucharist (and 8:00 am on Wednesdays)
5:00 pm - Evening Prayer
Fri. 9:20 am - The Eucharist (St Peters School, term-time only)"