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St Peter's is an unusually large church for Devon, and is sometimes known as the little Cathedral of Devon. Largely dating from the 14th century it is cruciform in shape and sits in the former park of the Earls of Bath.

An unusually complete Victorian interior with a breathtakingly elaborate chancel, featuring cusped and gilded roof rafters.

St Peter's is a relatively new church, being built because the old parish church of St Andrew, only seating 190, was too small. It was consecrated in 1893 by Rt Revd Dr Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln.

In what had been a promontory clifftop overlooking the north of the harbour and estuary of the River Wear, 60 hides of land were given by King Ecgfrith for Benedict Biscop to found the monastery of St Peter in the name of the Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury in 673 AD. This was the beginning of a new project a movement to bring learning, culture and the Christian religion to the north of Saxon Britain.

One of the Rylstone's most iconic buildings is St Peter's Church. Designated as Grade II listed by English Heritage, it was constructed between 1852 and 1853 and has a gritstone exterior in a style known as 'churchwarden gothic'.

St Peter's was built in 1874 designed by well known Lancashire firm of Paley and Austin and won an award for its design as a ‘mountain chapel'. This Grade II* church was built with no aisle, and a tower vault divides the church from the chancel. A lychgate was added in 1914. Built on the site of an earlier chapel together they have served the community for nearly three centuries.

St Peter's is in a windswept location, in open farmland, with ancient yew trees and a patina of great antiquity. Abutting the north side of the tower, and entered from the church, is a rare medieval priest's house.

Today, the Brough of Birsay is a small tidal island off the Orkney mainland. Between the 600s and 1200s AD, the area was settled by the Picts and Norse.

The most outstanding Norman church

St Peter's was of some importance particularly in Anglo Saxon times in giving its name to one of the thirteen Hundred districts into which Surrey was divided. It is popular with walkers who find it featured in most walking guides to the area particularly as it has the second largest Yew tree in UK.