Church of St John the Baptist, Peterborough

St John the Baptist Church in Peterborough is the Anglican parish church of the city, standing on Cathedral Square in the centre of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Built in the early 15th century and listed Grade I, it is the city's principal parish church, even if it often lives in the shadow of the neighbouring cathedral.

What is this church and where is it?

It is the main parish church of Peterborough, set right in the middle of town beside the square in front of the cathedral. That makes it easy to add to a walk around the historic centre: a few minutes on foot link one of the city's great landmarks with the next. The church is still in active use, so alongside its heritage value it serves a living local congregation.

When was it built?

Work on the present building began in 1402, and it was dedicated on 26 June 1407. For a medieval church of this size, that is a remarkably short construction period. It was built in the Perpendicular Gothic style, defined by tall, slender lines, large windows and a bright interior. Reportedly, materials from the earlier church and from the nave of the chapel of St Thomas Becket were reused in the new building.

How has it changed over the centuries?

The tower originally carried a spire, which was taken down in the late 1820s after the structure was judged unsafe. In 1881 a gale knocked a pinnacle off the tower, and it crashed through the aisle roof. After that incident, and years of wear, major restoration followed. J. L. Pearson worked on the church in 1882-83, and Sir Arthur Blomfield and Sons continued from the early 1890s until 1909. During the Victorian restoration the galleries were removed and a large east window was installed.

What to see inside

• Stained glass, mostly Victorian, which fills the interior with coloured light.
• A 15th-century font, dating from soon after the church was completed.
• A vestment cupboard dated 1569.
• Screens added in 1917 and 1938.
• A Georgian monument to Matthew Wyldbore, a Member of Parliament, in the Lady Chapel.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church a listed building? Yes. It is Grade I listed, the highest category of protection in England.

When was it built? Construction began in 1402 and the church was dedicated in 1407.

What architectural style is it? Late Gothic in its English Perpendicular form, with tall windows and strong vertical lines.

Is it a cathedral? No. It is a parish church; the cathedral stands nearby on the same square.

Is it still a working church? Yes, it is an active Anglican parish, so it is worth checking service times before planning a visit.

Why visit?

St John the Baptist shows another side of Peterborough: not just the monumental cathedral, but the civic parish church with a rich story of its own. Here you can see how a medieval building survived a storm, restorations and changing architectural tastes, and take in Victorian glass, a 15th-century font and Georgian monuments along the way. It makes a good stop for lovers of architecture and English history exploring the centre on foot who want to step inside something less obvious than the cathedral.