St Peter

Introduction

St Peter's Church in Bloxwich, within the Archdiocese of Birmingham, was designed by Bucknall & Donnelly of Birmingham and built of brick and Bath stone.

History

In 1946, Fr Michael J Walshe was appointed Parish Priest of St Peter's Parish, having been ordained in Paris on 29th June 1929. Work on the church extension began in September 1952 and was completed in June 1954, designed by Jennings, Homer & Lynch. As part of the 125th Anniversary year, the Stations of the Cross were restored and some kneelers fitted.

The main altar enshrines relics of St Maria Goretti. The original church was designed to seat a congregation of 150. The extension raised the church's capacity to 350. The parish has a proposal to initiate a Sheltered Housing Scheme (St Peter's Court) together with a joint Parish Hall and Community Centre.

Architecture and furnishings

Between 1987 and 1988, the sanctuary was altered: side altars were removed, altar rails removed, the pulpit and font repositioned, and a piety shop installed in the old baptistry. In 1993, the murals on the sanctuary were restored.

The statue of St Joseph was originally in the old church. The Assumption window, depicting the dogma defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950, was donated by Mr & Mrs B. Smith. The three choir gallery windows relate to St Patrick and were donated in memory of a former Mayor of Walsall.

The Stations of the Cross on the north and south walls were donated by various parishioners. At the annual Bloxwich and Blakenall Churches Together Songs of Praise held at St Peter's, the St Peter's Choir sang a number of their own motets.

Visiting

The parish runs a guided programme for first Holy Communion linked with the Primary school in Bloxwich. A Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is available to be in homes for a week as part of the 150th Anniversary celebrations. The parish holds a Parish Pilgrimage and Picnic.