St Peter's Church Heysham

"St. Peter’s Church

We are very lucky to live just a two-minute stroll from the sea, and yesterday, rather than venturing far, we decided to stay close to home. Our walk took us up through Heysham village and along the cliffs. The tide was quietly pushing its way inland, the sunlight catching on the water in glimmers of silver, and the morning air already held a gentle warmth.

It’s a walk we know well, yet it never loses its beauty. As we passed St. Peter’s Church, perched in its timeless spot overlooking Morecambe Bay, we suddenly realised that although we’ve lived in Heysham for many years, we had never actually stepped inside. We promised ourselves we would on the way back.

Before continuing, we lingered at the haunting ruins of the old chapel, dating back to the 8th or 9th century. Standing among the weathered stone walls, it’s impossible not to wonder what life was like here more than a thousand years ago. The gentle breeze that warm the cliffs today would have been the same breeze that lifted the prayers and chants of monks long gone. Nearby, the six rock-cut tombs carved directly into the sandstone cliff tell their own silent story, their origins traced to the 11th century. I was fascinated to discover they were featured on the cover of The Best of Black Sabbath, something I’d never realised before, despite having loved the band in my younger years.

From there we wandered along the cliffs, the view stretching out across the still, shining sea to the hazy outlines of the Lakeland hills. Then back through the village, with its narrow lanes and whitewashed cottages, felt like a scene lifted from a painting. As we retraced our steps, we arrived back at St. Peter’s, keeping our promise to finally step inside.

The church is small, humble, and yet steeped in centuries of history. An original church was built on this spot as early as 1080, with additions layered on through the 1300s to the 1800s. The air inside felt cool and faintly scented with old wood and stone. Ancient sunlight filtered through narrow windows, some of which date from the 14th century. The simple sandstone font, worn smooth from centuries of use, has been here since the 1500s.

What struck me most was the sense of preservation: so many original features remain, each telling its own part of the church’s story. One in particular stopped us in our tracks, a huge carved stone, as long as a pew, over six feet in length and two feet in height. This was a Viking hogback stone, dating from around 950AD, its surface etched with intricate carvings of men, wolves, and deer. To stand so close to something carved over a thousand years ago, and to find it here in our village church, felt extraordinary.

On the west wall, a medieval sepulchral slab rests in quiet dignity, bearing a floriated cross and the outline of a sword, a memorial to a knight or noble long forgotten. And then, stepping outside once more, the church offered its final gift: that sweeping view over Morecambe Bay. On a bright autumn day, the panorama of silver water and distant hills could not be more beautiful.

I’m so glad we chose to step inside. What we expected to be just another part of our walk became a journey back through centuries of faith, life, and history, hidden in plain sight in our own village."

Sue Smith OBE

"I won't repeat the history in this review as it has already been very well documented in previous reviews, which are well worth a read.
St Peters church dated back hundreds of centuries, it has seen many changes, however had stood the test of time. St Peters chapel further up the hill is more of a ruin. Here there are open graves from perhaps the medieval times. Human bones were found here previously. Sadly the grave tops are no longer in place, however when filled with rain water these graves look rather spectacular. Both chapel and church are located towards the top of the hill in the small village of Heysham. The church is small with lots of history. Even today, weddings still take place here. Surrounding the church is a sweeping graveyard. The stones and their stories, very interesting to read. It is a stunning location in which this historical location overlooks the bay of Heysham and Morecambe. Well worth a visit for anyone in the area."

Me 66

"This early-medieval (Dark-Ages?) church sits in a very attractive position on the seafront at Heysham, with sweeping views of the sea. The Church itself is a small, low building, built of dark local stone – very much looks of its age. This church has certainly seen a lot of change over time. A survivor.

The Church is surrounded by an expansive graveyard, which is well-tended and stretches down toward the seafront – worth spending time walking around the graveyard and reading the headstones here – some interesting personal stories. The graveyard also affords an excellent view on the evening sunset, which can be spectacular here.

Small garden to side of church, bordering the main road in the village, which is mature and offers pathways through bushes etc – a few odd sculptures dotted about in here.

To the back of the churchyard, there are medieval ruins, these are situated beneath the ruins of St Patrick’s Chapel, which sits further up the slope upon a cliff.

Worth stopping by and spending an hour or two here – if you’re staying at the Royal down the road, pop along at sunset and enjoy the quiet and the views from the churchyard."

Rich Deerdog