St. Peter’s Church is a century-old place of worship that holds a special place in the hearts of fans of the Beatles and Liverpool Football Club. It was here in 1957 that John Lennon, while waiting to perform with his band The Quarrymen, was introduced to Paul McCartney. They went on to form one of the biggest bands in music history. Walk in the footsteps of the Beatles at St. Peter’s Church and experience its welcoming community spirit.
The church dates back to 1886 and stands on the grounds of an earlier chapel. It showcases the English Gothic architectural style and is dominated by a 90-feet (27-meter) tall bell tower. Pay attention to the facade’s decorative features such as cornices, gargoyles and pinnacles. A plaque outside the church hall commemorates the meeting of Lennon and McCartney and is inscribed with the words that was the day, the day I met Paul, that it started moving.
Go inside and admire the paintings by London-born artist Sigismund Goetze. Study stained-glass windows by the Victorian-era designer Charles Eamer Kempe. There’s also a memorial engraved with the names of fallen soldiers of World War I.
Discover connections to the Beatles in the graveyard, including the tomb of Lennon’s uncle and guardian George Toogood Smith. Look for the gravestones of Eleanor Rigby and John McKenzie, rumored to be the people referenced in the song Eleanor Rigby. Soccer fans also visit the graveyard to pay their respects at the grave of former Liverpool Football Club manager Bob Paisley.
Located in the suburb of Woolton, the church is about a 20-minute drive from central Liverpool. A direct bus service travels to Woolton from the Liverpool One shopping and entertainment complex.
St. Peter’s Church is open daily and admission is free. Download a map of the graveyard from the church’s official website. There’s also downloadable maps that detail other locations in Woolton with a connection to the Beatles, including the former orphanage Strawberry Field.
