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he Black & White Picture Place

Old Photographs of Liverpool

St. Peter's Church part one. On to part two

St. Peter's Church stood in Church Street from 1704 to 1919 on a site later to be occupied by the first Woolworth's store in the UK. It served as Liverpool's Pro-Cathedral before the great Anglican Cathedral was built. If you look up at the top of the Woolworth building, you will notice a memorial to the vanished church- the cross keys symbol of St. Peter. The gardens that surrounded the building can be seen again in this photograph of the Bluecoat School.

From Picture of Liverpool: A Stranger's Guide published in 1834:

"This edifice, which stands on the south side of Church street was built by assessment, and consecrated in 1704. It cost three thousand five hundred pounds and is said to be the first parish church that was erected in Lancashire after the Reformation. There are four portals, and each in a different style of architecture- a proof how little good taste or architectural beauty was understood at that time in this town. The upper part of the tower is octangular and ornamented at the angles with pinnacles, each bearing a gilt vane.
The entire height of the steeple is 108 feet, and it has a peal of eight bells.
The interior of the church is furnished with pews, and the galleries rest on four well carved oak pedestals, on which rise an equal number of plain columns, supporting the roof.
The altar exhibits a fine specimen of rich carving in oak, and is generally and deservedly admired. A representation of St Peter, in stained glass decorates the east window, and a large and handsome organ occupies the west end, with a gallery on each side, appropriated to the use of the children who belong to the Blue Coat Hospital.
In 1715, a mariner named John Fells gave a donation of thirty pounds, for the purpose of founding a small theological library in this church. It has since received additions from one of the rectors, and at present comprises 107 volumes in folio, 56 in quatro, and 54 in octavo. These works are deposited in the vestry , and chiefly treat on divinity and ancient church history"

st. pewter's demolition
A rather murky photograph of the demolition of St. Peter's in 1919

st. Peter's Church

St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's seen in 1919, not long before it was demolished. Notice how narrow Church Street was at this time.

St. Peter's Church gates
The gates leading to the churchyard from Church Lane in 1919.

On to St. Peter's Church part two

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