Parish Church of St Peter

St Peter’s Church stands in the Derbyshire town of Belper. It is a Grade II listed parish church built to designs by Matthew Habershon and consecrated in 1824. The church shares its parish with St Swithun’s and St Mark’s in nearby Openwoodgate. Inside, a memorial to George Brettle was carved by Sir Richard Westmacott in 1835. The tower houses eight bells cast in 1925 by John Taylor of Loughborough. A new clock by John Moore & Sons was installed in the tower in 1864. The church is worth the journey for its fine architecture and historic furnishings. Habershon’s design was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1824 before the building opened. The organ dates back to around 1754 and has been rebuilt and enlarged several times, most recently in 1978–79 by Edmund Stow. Organists have included Walter Wardle Windle, who served from 1882 to 1930. The tower clock and bells remain working examples of 19th- and 20th-century craftsmanship. Visitors find a simple nave and chancel with clear lines and good natural light. The Westmacott memorial stands on the north side of the church. The organ case and console occupy the west end, and the tower arch frames the ringing chamber. The churchyard slopes gently down to the nearby river gardens, offering quiet views of Belper’s historic mill buildings.