Pandemic
When Covid-19 swept through the UK in early 2020, St Peter’s was forced, like churches all over England, to close.
However, that didn’t mean that it lost touch with its congregation and the wider community. Services went online, reaching a wider geographic group of people, the church building became a food distribution centre and connections with the most disadvantaged in our city deepened.
Other key areas
Jean Wheeler: Everyday Life
Jean Wheeler and the Wheeler family started coming to St Peter's in the 1950s. Here she tells us how she navigated family life and being part of the church.
St Peter’s is a Landmark
Born in Brighton in 1945 at the bottom of what was then Carlton Hill to the east of the church, Marie Elvin describes what life was like in the seaside city in the aftermath of the Second World War, and her lifelong connection to St Peter's Church.
Coming to Faith
Lisa Williamson describes how an emotional connection to St Peter's evolved into a life full of faith.
Church Today
Under the church’s spectacular roof, more than 600 people from all walks of life, of all ages and backgrounds, gather every Sunday to worship and pray. The church is a venue for the celebration and commemoration of significant events, including weddings. It is a working building in use every day of the week, housing around 20 staff, and is a vibrant community hub.
Best Friends
For many, St Peter's has been a place to discover not only faith, but also friendship. One congregation member tells her story.
Bonfire Nights on The Level
Sitting right at the centre of Brighton, a short walk from the Palace Pier and the Pavilion, London Road and the station, and right on the edge of The Level, St Peter’s has formed the backdrop for thousands of memories. Brighton native Sue Clement tells us her childhood recollections of bonfire night.
The Donnes: A Typical Brighton Family
The Donne family arrived in Brighton at the turn of the nineteenth century just as the Brighton building boom got underway. It included the construction of a new church, St Peter's, which began in 1824. Living in York Place, the family had a front row seat from which to watch.
Significant Services
Over its 200-year history, St Peter’s has been the venue of many memorable services encompassing weddings, baptisms, civic services, communions, memorials and thanksgivings.
‘This project is kindly funded by Historic England as part of the Everyday Heritage - Working Class Histories. We are grateful to them for this funding.’