St Peter and St Paul, Buckingham

St Peter and St Paul stands in the centre of Buckingham on Castle Hill, a prominent site in the town’s historic core. The church has served the community since the 18th century, replacing an earlier building that had suffered repeated collapses. Its foundation stone was laid in 1777 with a grand ceremony that included a specially composed hymn and a roasted ox provided by Earl Temple. The new church was consecrated in 1780 after a petition explained the need for a replacement. The church’s present form reflects major changes made in the 19th century by George Gilbert Scott. His alterations transformed the simple Georgian structure into a Victorian Gothic Revival building, adding a chancel, buttresses and a porch between 1860 and 1867. The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos funded the new chancel with a donation of £358, and Bishop Wilberforce consecrated the additions in 1867. Little of the original 18th-century fabric remains untouched. Inside, the restored organ draws attention for its musical and architectural significance. Built by Norman & Beard and installed in 1913, it was moved to Buckingham in 1969 and rebuilt in 2015–16 by Peter Collins Ltd. The work reinstated the Open Diapason stop and improved sound projection by raising the organ onto a new mezzanine platform. The instrument now supports weekly services, choral concerts and the Buckingham Summer Festival, offering both worship and cultural opportunities for the town.