St Peter's Church, Harborne

Saint Peter's is the ancient parish church of Harborne, Birmingham, England.BackgroundThere has been a church on the site since Saxon times and St Chad is even thought to have preached there. The base of an early preaching cross was found in the mid-1980s during work at the back of the church. The parish formerly covered what is now Smethwick (North Harborne), all of current Harborne and even parts of Quinton (Ridgeacre).The present building is Victorian, dating from the 1860s by architect Yeoville Thomason. Elihu Burritt, who was living in Harborne at the time was on the committee that oversaw the restoration. The tower is far older and is all that remains of the medieval church. It is believed to date from the 14th century. The sanctuary was rebuilt during 1974/5 after a fire. It is a Grade II listed building.Burials Bob Brettle, boxer The artist David Cox - there is also a sanctuary memorial window to him. Watercolour artist Thomas Baker is buried next to David Cox. Anne Chamberlain, wife of Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister. Sir Charles Haughton Rafter, Chief Constable of Birmingham City Police between 1899 and 1935. George Edward Hunt, jeweller There are also 40 war graves of Commonwealth service personnel, 22 from World War I and 18 from World War II.