Denomination Church of England Vicar(s) Rev Peter Andrews Province Province of Canterbury | Deanery Lambeth South Deanery Phone +44 20 8769 2922 Archdeaconry London Borough of Lambeth | |
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Architect(s) Richard Drew & George Fellowes Prynne Address Leigham Court Road, Streatham SW16 2SD, United Kingdom Diocese Anglican Diocese of Southwark Similar St Luke's Church - West Nor, Trinity Church - Sutton, St James the Less - Pimlico, St Peter's Church - Eaton Sq, Lillington and Longmoo | ||
St Peter’s Church is an Anglican Church in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade II* listed building and occupies a prominent position in Leigham Court Road, Streatham.
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Parish
Until Streatham Hill and West Norwood railway stations were opened in 1856, the area that became St Peter’s parish was mainly rural, with some large villas along Leigham Court Road and Crown Lane. The advent of the railway that links these stations with Victoria stimulated residential development including additional large houses and also substantial numbers of more modest semi-detached and terraced properties.
The parish of St Peter, Streatham was formed from parts of the parishes of St Leonard, Streatham and St Luke's, West Norwood. In about 1866 a temporary iron church, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul was erected on the west side of Leigham Court Road, opposite the site of the present structure. The parish of St Peter was formed in 1870, the year in which the initial portion of the present church building, which had been designed by Richard Drew, was consecrated by Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Winchester. In 1886–87, after further funds had become available, the church was enlarged in accordance with plans by George Fellowes Prynne.
In 1886, the population of St Peter's parish amounted to 2,889 and was served by three clergy. The total (morning and evening) attendance as a proportion of the parochial population at that time stood at 39.9%. In 1901, the population of the parish had increased to 4,780 and the number of clergymen in the following year was still three with attendance at its services representing 19.5% of the parochial population.
Based on statistics from the UK census, the Diocese of Southwark estimates the population of St Peter’s parish was 12,400 in 2001 and 14,300 in 2011.
Building
St Peter’s Church is a Grade II* listed building standing in a prominent position on the east side of Leigham Court Road immediately south of its junction with Glennie Road. The building takes full advantage of its position on rising ground facing a curve in the road. Much use is made of polychrome brickwork which, combined with clay tile roofing, minorets, varied fenestration, a stair-turret and a large wheel-window give the west frontage an asymmetrical but picturesque appearance. Taking advantage of the lie of the land, the ground floor of the west end of the building houses a set of parish rooms. The worship area occupies the upper part of the entire structure, being reached by a flight of steps and a ramp that lead to an entrance that opens on to the higher ground towards the east end of the site.
The interior of the church was rearranged in the late 1980s under the direction of Derek Philips RIBA. The altar was moved to the west end of the building (which had originally been the baptistry) and the east end is now used as a day chapel with choir stalls.