St Peter's Church, Wallingford

An earlier church on the site was destroyed in 1646 during the siege of Wallingford in the Civil War. Building of the present church started in 1763, the contractors being William Toovey and Joseph Tuckwell. In 1767 the interior of the church was paved, pews were added, and the exterior was stuccoed under the supervision of Sir Robert Taylor. A spire designed by Taylor was added in 1776–77. A local resident, Sir William Blackstone, a lawyer and author of the Commentaries on the Laws of England, took an interest in the building of the spire and paid for the clock face visible from his house. He is now buried in the family vault beneath the church. The chancel was built in 1904, designed by…

The nave has a shallow-arched coffered ceiling. The pews and font date from the 18th century. In the east window is stained glass dating from 1918 by Morris & Co. On the south wall is a monument to Sir William Blackstone and his family. It consists of an inscribed panel above three shields, surrounded by an arch.