The church was built in 1860 to replace a chapel of 1834 that had been designed by W. Coulthard. The new church was designed by theLancaster architectE. G. Paley. More land had been given to double the size of the site by W. G. Bradley.[4] The church was paid for by William Garnett, the owner of nearby Quernmore Park Hall.[5] It cost about £3,000 (equivalent to £360,000 in 2023),[6] and provided seating for 320 people.[4]
St Peter's is constructed insandstonerubble and has aslate roof. Its plan consists of a three-baynave, a northaisle, a north porch, achancel, and a west tower.[2] The architectural style is that of the 13th century.[5] The tower is in three stages which are separated bymouldedstring courses. It is supported by diagonalbuttresses, and at the northeast corner is an octagonal stairturret rising to a greater height than the tower. The bottom stage contains a two-light window, and in the middle stage aretrefoil windows. The bell openings in the top stage have two lights. At the top of the tower is acorbel table above which is a solidparapet withlancet openings. Along the south wall are three two-light windows, and there are two similar windows on the north aisle wall. The east window has three lights, and at the east end of the aisle is awheel window.[2]
The interior of the church is lined with brick and the dressings are in sandstone.[2] It is the first church designed by Paley with a bare brick interior.[7] The three-bay northarcade is carried onquatrefoilpiers whosecapitals are decorated with foliage carving.[2][5] Thepulpit is in the style of the 16th century and is decorated withlinenfold panelling. It was made by Bell and Coupland. The stained glass in the east window is byPowell, and that in the tower window is by F. Burrow. Elsewhere is stained glass byShrigley and Hunt, and byE. Jewitt. In a chapel at the northeast of the church is a chapel with items designed by John Hayward in 1959. These include areredos, and stained glass, that in the north window depicting theDeposition, and in the east window the glass in the wheel window is decorated with amonogram and rays.[5] The two-manual organ was built in 1961 byHenry Willis,[8] and was modified in 1964 by the same builders.[9]
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