St.Peter's Church

SHORT HISTORY

In 1963 because of the increasing numbers of Church of Ireland people in the Messines Park and Belmont areas of the City the Rector and Select Vestry of Christ Church decided to hold a weekly service in the Messines Park Royle British Legion Hall. The first services was held on thursday 5th September, of that year and was conducted by the Rev. Canon V.G. Griffin, assisted by the Rev. W.S. Gibbons. This was so well attended that it was decided to conduct a regular weekly service with a celebration of Holy Communion once per Month. Sunday School was started each Sunday and the children later attended morning service in Christ Church or the Mission Church.

On thursday 19th September 1963 a Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of the Canon Griffin with Mr Jack Elliot as Hon. Secretary and Miss Beth Leake as Hon. Treasurer. Other members of the Committee were Mrs E. Devine, Mr S. Elliot, Mr Gallick and Mr A. McManus. Mr A. McMurphy was to be responsible for the social activities and fundraising for a new Church which it was hoped would be built in the area. Many functions were organised over the next three years and the climax was reached when on the 8th October 1966 the consecration of the new Church, dedicated to St. Peter, was carried out by the Rt. Rev. Charles Tyndall, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe.

The Links which had excisted between the legion and the Church were cemented when in 1975, prior to the legion branch being closed, the legion standards were laid up in St. Peter's.The new Parish hall was opened on Saturday 4th October 1969. St. Peter's Church Joined together with Culmore and Muff Churches to become a Group in 1978.

On September 2007 the Group Parishes of Culmore, Muff and St.Peter's Amalgamated with Christ Church on Infirmary Road, to become a group. So St. Peter's Church returned back to where it once began, part of Christ Church the Mother Church.

The Grouped Parishes of Christ Church, Culmore, Muff and St.Peter's.