St John’s – Peterborough Parish Church

A beacon of faith, hope and love in the heart of our city

Peterborough Parish Church (named after St John the Baptist and so often referred to simply as St John’s) is the historic parish church for Peterborough. It is a Grade 1 listed building.

St John’s is situated in a prominent position in the heart of Peterborough’s Cathedral Square and is an iconic feature of the city centre.  It has been a living heritage of faith serving the people of the city since 1407. The parish served by St John’s straddles the railway line and Bourges Boulevard, and there is a second smaller church, St Luke’s, serving the West Town area.

Today St John’s is home to a vibrant church community and is in the Church of England Diocese of Peterborough.  It is a popular venue for concerts, exhibitions and talks, used by a variety of groups.  All are welcome and we aim to cater for the needs of families at our services.

The usual entrance into St John’s is via steps in the South Porch, but there are two ramps to allow step-free access into the church for buggies and wheelchairs. Inside the church there is step-free access to all areas, and there are two accessible toilets, one with baby changing facilities.

St John’s is one of just over three hundred Church of England churches to be designated as a Major Parish Church, and so is part of the Major Churches Network.  St John’s is also part of the Eco Church network of churches taking practical action to care for God’s earth and has now gained a bronze Eco Church award.

If you are visiting St John’s you may find it interesting to use this walk round tour, and if you need a map to help you find us you can find one on our “Where to find us” page. You may also find our History of St John’s page of interest.