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Introduction
 St Peter’s was consecrated on 2nd July 1870 by the diocesan bishop of Winchester. The parish was created from that of its overflowing mother church, St Leonard's, in order to minister to the ever expanding Victorian population. Today the parish spans parts of Streatham and West Norwood and includes some 5,000 homes and 16,000 people of all ages, races and religions.
The church was built on land given by George Drew, who owned a large part of the Leigham Manor Estate and who lived at Leigham Court. He also built Leigham Court Road and sold or redeveloped the remainder of the estate. He was supported by a number of wealthy families of the area, the Trolloppes, the Morgans and others. They felt that the church they needed should be in the tradition of the Oxford Movement, then 30-40 years old, and they particularly wanted to have somewhere where the music would play a worthy part in the reverent and devotional worship they were asking for.
A temporary ‘tin’ church was erected on the west side of Leigham Court Road initially whilst the new church was built.
Picture above - A hand coloured picture of St Peter's from a postcard in the early 1900s. Probably before 1906. Note the ivy and the round tower. The top of the round tower was blown off in 1944 by the blast from a flying bomb which landed on the opposite side of Leigham Cout Road. |
Architects of St Peter’s
 | The first architect was Richard. W. Drew the son of George Drew and a nephew of Butterfield. Work stopped in 1870 when three bays of the nave were complete and a temporary west wall was erected. The church was enlarged in 1886-87 by a second architect: George H. Fellowes Prynne. The enlargement involved adding the fine Rose Window to the west, the Baptistry. The Lady Chapel was added in 1906 and the nave of the church was widened after foundations collapsed.
More recently, the church was re-ordered and substantially refurbished in 1987, to designs by Derek Phillips.
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The Resurrection Chapel
 The Resurrection Chapel was created from the original chancel. The chapel is used for week-day Masses and provides a wonderful intimacy for worship. The square stone altar was installed in 1987. The reredos presents a glorious scene of Christ rising from the tomb on Easter Day - the Resurrection. Sunflowers, the symbol of resurrection, are depicted in the upper decoration and the four living creatures representing Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Gospel writers.
East window (Resurrection Chapel)
Above the reredos is the east window of 1955 by Lawrence Lee. Most of the original stained glass of the building was lost during the Second World War. This may not be such a bad thing for practical purposes, since the building would have been much darker when fully glazed. The east window shows Christ in Glory with his mother and St Peter. St Peter is shown holding a detailed scale picture of this church.
Picture - a detail from the Reredos in the Resurrection Chapel |
Sgraffito Angels
 Picture - a detail from the centre panel of the Sgraffito Angels
On the wall North wall of the Resurrection Chapel you can see the five angels of the passion, so called because they hold items which feature in the story of Christ's passion - the pillar of scourging, the garment without a seam and the dice, the cross, spear and the sponge, the crown of thorns and nails, a lantern, a torch and a weapon.
The Angels were dedicated in 1896 on the Feast of All Saints and are made from plaster using a style called Sgraffito. The Angels are damaged in the Easternmost corner, and a project is underway to restore them. If you would like to know more, please contact us.
The Resurrection Chapel area takes one of its themes from the first lesson read on All Saints Day (Revelation Chap. 7) – Five Angels, Four living creatures (on the Reredos) and multitudes of people standing before the Lamb in worship and saying the words "Blessing, Honor, Glory, Power, Be Unto Him that Sitteth Upon the Throne and Unto the Lamb for Ever and Ever" which are written around the high frieze.
See also special page on The Sgraffito Angels by following the link below.
On the right-hand wall are three elegant sedilia, and a piscina in memory of Cuthbert Wotherspoon, a former server. |
The Organ and Choir
 Organ
The organ is a fine and very grand four-manual William Hill and Son. In 1870 it would have been smaller - three manuals. It was extended by the Hill firm between 1903 and 1913. The west case was designed by Arthur Hill for the 1903 enlargement.
The organ has undergone three restorations - the first in 1970 when the manual actions were converted from the original tubular pneumatic system to electro-magnetic. In 1994 this work was continued with the full restoration of the pedal organ and conversion to electro-magnetic action. In 2000, the slider machines for the manuals were restored.
See also the special section on the organ on this web site for more details
Choir
Music has always been an important part of the liturgy and tradition at St Peter's. The first organist and choirmaster of St Peter’s was Benjamin Agutter who started a choir in the temporary ‘tin’ church in 1866. The choir has continued to sing, except for a break during the second world war, since then.
See the Groups: Choir section for more details.
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Former Incumbents
Arthur Charles Tarbutt (1870-1890)
Henry Baron Dickinson (1890-1904)
Edward Jervis (1904-1918)
Herbert Charles Frith (1919-1927)
Richard Frederick Morson (1927-1941)
Walter Gould (1941-1949)
Charles David Smith (1949-1968)
Michael J. Woodgate (1968-1984)
John R. Hall (1984-1992)
Andrew Walker (1993-1998)
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Former Directors of Music
Benjamin Agutter (1866-1905)
Greek Stoneman (1905-1929)
Mr. S.W. Ingham (1929-1957)
Frederick Waterman (1958-1967)
Michael B. Kerton (1967-1979)
Stephen E.T. Lloyd (1979-1984)
John S. Brierley (1985-1987)
Michael R. Stoddart (1987-1989)
Norman A.J. Harper (1989-1995)
Simon Lewis (1995-1996)
Mark Levett (1996-1998)
David Abbott (1998-1999)
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The High Altar
 | The high altar and tabernacle were added as part of the 1987 re-ordering. This new space, formerly the baptistry, provides a magnificent setting for Sunday Masses and other services. Behind the tabernacle are windows depicting the sacraments designed by Lawrence Lee, dating from 1956.
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The Rose Window
 | Each of the twelve points of the window represents an apostle with a symbol. The following notes explore the references to the twelve apostles.
St Matthew
He is holding a tablet inscribed with the letter M. He was a tax collector in the service of Herod Antipas. He is sometimes called Levi and was possibly martyred in Ethiopia or Persia. The Gospel of Matthew, written between AD 50 and AD 100, does not give the name of its author, but from very early on Matthew has been accepted as its writer.
St Peter
The fisherman; he was brother to St Andrew and was married. Jesus called him 'Kepha' (Aramaic for 'Rock') and conferred on him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and the power of binding and loosing sins. We read of St Peter's promise to Jesus and the tragic remembrance of the cock-crow. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to St Peter, and he was commanded to 'Feed my lambs' and Feed my sheep'. He was martyred under Nero, possibly crucified head downwards and may have been buried under the place where the altar of the Vatican basilica now stands.
St Philip
He came from the lakeside town of Bethsaida in Galilee, the home town of Peter and Andrew. Philip went straight to Nathanael, told him he had found the Messiah, and introduced him to Jesus. Faced with a crowd of five thousand hungry people, Jesus tested Philip's faith. 'Where can we buy enough bread to feed all these people?' he asked. Philip was wondering where the money would come from. But Jesus fed them all from five small loaves and two fish. Philip possibly preached the Gospel in Phrygia and died at Hierapolis. The window shows a basket of bread and fish.
St James-the-Less
Son of Alphaeus, sometimes said to be Jesus's brother, although this is in question. James did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah until he saw him after the resurrection. James is said to have presided over the Christian Community in Jerusalem as bishop and to have been martyred there. Josephus records that James, was stoned to death in AD 62. The epistle of James in the New Testament is often attributed to James, the Lord's brother. This panel shows a windmill.
St Matthias
He was chosen to fill the place left vacant by the traitor Judas Iscariot. Unreliable accounts tell of his martyrdom and crucifixion.
St Jude
Sometimes called Thadaeus or Lebbaeus: he is sometimes identified with Jude, the brother of James and reputed to be writer of the Epistle of Jude in the New Testament. He is believed to be a powerful intercessor for those in desperate trouble.
St John
A Galilean fisherman, who with his brother James (the Greater) was called by Jesus while mending their nets. Jesus nicknamed them 'Sons of Thunder', so they were probably excitable and quick-tempered. They accompanied him at the Transfiguration and in Gethsemane. By tradition, St John is 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'. Jesus confided the care of his mother to him; he ran before Peter to the tomb on the morning of the resurrection. He first recognised the risen Lord by the Sea of Tiberius. He is associated with St Peter at the healing of the lame man in the temple. He shared St Peter's imprisonment and went with him to Samaria. St Paul names him with Peter as pillars of the Church in Jerusalem. John's Gospel, written in about AD 90 probably contains the reminiscences of John. This panel shows a pattern of crossed swords, an eagle's head and a small tablet bearing the letter 'J'.
St Andrew
A Galilean fisherman, the first called of the followers; later he brought his brother (St Peter) to Jesus. He is mentioned several times in the Gospels, but accounts of his later life are unreliable. The story that he was martyred on an X-shaped cross did not appear until the late middle ages. He is the patron saint of Scotland and the panel shows his emblem, a saltire cross 'X'.
St Bartholomew
Little is known about him. He was a Cypriot Jew, closely associated with the work of St Paul, until they quarrelled over John Mark. He was sent to the growing Christian Centre at Antioch, and brought Paul from Tarsus to help him; later he went with Paul on the first missionary journey, starting with Cyprus. The panel shows a human figure with a large curved sword superimposed.
St Simon
Sometimes called 'the Cananean' and sometimes 'the Zealot'. He was one of the twelve called by Jesus, but nothing else of certainty is known about him. The Zealots were an extreme Jewish nationalist group pledged to drive out the Romans. The panel shows a saw, an oar and a book.
St James-the-Greater
A fisherman and brother of St John. He was with Peter and John at the Transfiguration and at Gethsemane. He was the first Apostle to be martyred, being killed for his faith by order of Herod Agrippa I. A Spanish tradition has it that he visited Spain and preached the Gospel there, but the story is now discredited. The shrine of Santiago de Compostella has been a centre of pilgrimages since the later middle ages and he is often represented as a pilgrim with a scallop-shell, the mendicant's begging-bowl. A pilgrim's pouch, staff and scallop-shells are shown.
St Thomas
Also called 'Didymus', the twin. A fervent follower of Jesus, he had doubts about the resurrection. He was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them on the first Easter day. He said he would not believe Jesus was alive again until he saw and touched the scars. A week later, Thomas saw Jesus for himself. 'My Lord and my God', he said. The story of his mission to India is regarded as unlikely, although he may have reached southern India.
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The Lady Chapel and Pulpit
 Picture - Detail from Lady Chapel Reredos
Lady Chapel
The south wall and Lady Chapel were completely rebuilt in 1906 to new designs by George Fellows Prynne after the foundations of the original collapsed. The wrought-iron gates at the entrance to the Lady Chapel celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. There is an ER within the design. The golden crowns on top were donated by the Mothers' Union.
The altar is the original high altar, shortened slightly to fit this space. It depicts the Lamb of God. The reredos is very fine, as are the windows. The statue of Our Lady, carved by Anton Wagner, was dedicated in 1970 for the church's centenary.
Pulpit
The pulpit, now no longer used, was given in 1930 to mark the church's Diamond Jubilee. The 'Warham Guild' design is by F.E. Howard and shows the arms of the three dioceses; Winchester, Rochester and Southwark
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From the archives...
 | St Peter's interior looking east circa 1974 |
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From the archives...
 | St Peter's interior looking East - a detail |
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From the archives...
 | In the 1960s, the cubs used to visit Folkstone and Broadstairs in the summer. Two pictures to take you back to that era. If you are in the photograph - don't hesitate to get in touch.
[The web editor's family are too]
Jam, peanut butter or marmite?
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From the archives...
 | Cub camp (2) |
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From the archives...
 | The choir, circa 1976
Back row: Left to right: Michael Kerton, Tom Hearn, Fred Vere, Jonathan Meyrick (?), Stephen Mellor, John Turner, Hamish Sutcliffe, John Skinner, Fr Michael Woodgate, Ronnie Rackham, Fr Stephen Jones
Middle row: Left to right: David Chapman, Michael Maduro, Colin Pritchard, Nicholas Day
Front row: Left to right: Stephen Turner, Trevor Pritchard, Ronald James, Lucian Meek
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From the archives
 | The choir conducted two sponsored sings in 1991 and 1993 to raise money for the restoration of the Organ. The first took the choir to all of the churches dedicated to St Peter in the Diocese of Southwark. The second, in 1993 took the choir to all of the churches on the bus route from St Peter's to Oxford Circus (in those days the 137). This picture shows the choir and some members of the congregation standing on Clapham Common in front of the Double-Decker we hired for the occasion.
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From the archives...
Serving team - 1961 or 1962
Back row: Graham Cave; ?John Temple?; Richard Press; Roger Claxton; Jack Gaster; Robert Steele; Chris Gaster; Arthur Henderson; Les Osborne; Dick Gaster; Terry Head; Luke Van Beek; Robert Macdonald; David Sutcliffe; Mike Dodsworth; Edwin Wade
Front row: Bernard Dagnall; Chris Diamond; Chris Hearn; Mr Caswell; Fr Peter Tidmarsh; Fr Charles Smith; Fr David Brecknell; John Clark; Peter Johnson; Tim Weare
If you are in the picture, or know someone in the picture, please send us an email. |  |
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