St Peter

The building is listed grade I and described in Pevsner. The present church stands on the site of an earlier 11th century church building, the font from the earlier building is still in use today and must be the oldest piece of carved stone in Portishead.

The present chancel and two bay nave date from 14th century and the north aisle and south porch from 15th century. The east window, containing Victorian (1866) stained glass, is contemporary with the early 14th century nave and chancel. At the apex of this wall, a window contains the last fragment of medieval glass.

In the main body of the church, the fine stone pulpit was probably set up around 1600. The unusual stone steps leading up to it and cut into the thickness of the wall once led up to the top of the rood screen but were utilised to give access to the pulpit. The chancel was reordered in the 2010s with the theme of 'The Cross of Nails', drawing on the town's nautical and industrial heritage, in particular the former Mustad nail factory. Banners depicting scenes of present day Portishead are hung either side of the altar. The church is also the home of the town’s war memorial listing those killed in the First and Second World Wars.

The tower is one of the finest in the district, 98 feet 9 inches high and erected about 1450. It is a good example of the workmanship of the Guild of Masons. The pinnacles and parapet at Portishead, however, are more elaborate than others of the North Mendip group and bear comparison with the towers at Evercreech and St Stephen’s, Bristol City.

The church is set in a conservation area next door to Court Farm (Grade 2 listed) with its 15th century manor house which was an active farm until recently; this cluster of buildings is a reminder of the origins of the town and how it would have looked until the recent past. Together with the Millennium Garden (a flower garden developed by church members and part of Portishead in Bloom, a regular Gold Medal winner), the area is an oasis of peace in an expanding town.

The church has connections with Fred Weatherly, lyricist of many Victorian and Edwardian songs including 'Danny Boy' and 'Roses of Picardy', whose family provided a stained glass window. The mother of composer George Butterworth is buried in the church yard.