St. Peter's Church

St. Peter's story begins in the grounds of Buckland House, where a 'chapel of ease' was originally built for the use of the family and staff. It was known to be in existence in 1426.

Other parishioners were attending this small chapel by 1683, but by 1782 it was recorded that "This chapel had long lain in ruins."

It was rebuilt on its present site in 1778 by John Henry Southcote, then owner of Buckland House, to serve the family and staff and the villages of Goveton and Ledstone. A path was made from Buckland House to the church, via a kissing gate still in situ. The stone slabs used to make a path from the kissing gate to the church door were re-used in recent years, to replace worn slabs from the road gate to the church. The church continued to be known as St. Peter's and was consecrated in 1779.

Today St. Peter's is one of a group of nine churches in the Start Bay Benefice as the result of the coming together in 2008. The church of St Peter’s is Grade II listed.