History

It is probable that there has been a church on this site since Saxon times as the 1086 Domesday Survey entry for Petersham suggests by its phraseology that the church there then had been restored.

In 1266 a Norman church was built of which only part of the chancel is left and the oldest visible portion of the church today is the blocked 13th century lancet window in the chancel, which can be seen from outside the church.

In 1505 the body of the church was rebuilt – except for the chancel - and possibly enlarged so that the building became rectangular in shape

Early in the 17th century, north and south transepts were added. More major alterations took place in 1840 when the south transept was enlarged to its present size and its galleries put in.

Van Gogh at St Peter's

In his formative years , Van Gogh intended to become a minister. During his stay in England in 1876, he journeyed to Ham and Petersham in November to give a sermon at the Wesleyan Chapel which at that time was found between what are now numbers 287 and 289 Petersham Road. The chapel has been long since demolished. Van Gogh recorded the visit and the service in a letter to his brother Theo. At the foot of the letter are sketches of the chapel in the Petersham Road with another sketch of one in Twickenham. At the time of his visit to Ham, Vincent was just 23 years old.

Marriages at St Peter's

Mystery surrounds the supposed marriage at Petersham in 1664 of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, cousin of Charles II. His supposed wife was Lady Francesca Bard, mother of his son Dudley Bard who was born c.1666. A document exists which seems to be their marriage certificate, signed by the then minister of Petersham, and Lady Francesca often claimed that they had been married. Unfortunately the parish registers are incomplete and the true story will probably never be known.

1718 saw the marriage of Lady Jane Hyde, the daughter of the Earl of Rochester. She was a great beauty and was written about by Swift, Gay and Pope amongst others. Her portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller hangs among the "Beauties" at Hampton Court Palace. A marriage, with royal connections, which certainly took place was that between the future Earl of Strathmore and Nina Cavendish-Bentinck of Forbes House, Ham Common on 16th July 1881. The youngest daughter of this marriage, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, married the Duke of York in 1923 and became Queen Elizabeth in 1936 when he succeeded to the throne as King George VI.