Church of St John the Baptist, Peterborough

St John the Baptist Church stands in Cathedral Square, a short walk from Peterborough Cathedral. Built as the town’s parish church, it served ordinary people while the cathedral served the monks. The present building replaced an 11th-century church moved stone by stone when the city centre shifted west. Construction began in 1402 and the church was dedicated in 1407. Its bells rang for royal funerals at the cathedral, including those of Katherine of Aragon and Mary, Queen of Scots. The church has seen many changes over the centuries. After the Civil War, plans to demolish it were abandoned. In 1819 a heavy-handed restoration added galleries and a clerestory. Later, John Loughborough Pearson restored roofs, tracery and floors between 1882 and 1883. A 1938 refit introduced High Anglican furnishings, including a painted reredos carved by Mahomet Thomas Phillips. A stained-glass window from 1968 commemorates local figures like Nurse Edith Cavell and Captain Thomas Mellows. Visitors find a Perpendicular-style church with a fine 15th-century south porch. Inside, the font dates from the same period, while modern screens and monuments add interest. The 1968 window shows notable people linked to Peterborough. The church’s Grade I listing recognises its ambitious design and historic features. Its setting in Cathedral Square offers easy access to Peterborough’s other landmarks.