The Ancient Chapelry of Formby, St Peter existed from early times, when it was part of the ancient parish of St Mary, Walton. The Rector of Walton remains Patron of the living.
The original building was nearer the coast, where St Luke’s Church is now. A storm destroyed it in 1739. The replacement church dedicated to St Peter was built further inland.
This re-building is why we now have a Georgian Church, with the characteristic clear glass windows, dating from 1746. At different times, side galleries were added (the line of which can still be seen in the plasterwork). A 1767 seating plan shows box pews and a pulpit on the south side of the Church, between the windows.
In the 1870s the old apsidal east end was removed, and the present chancel, sanctuary and side chapel (the Formby Chapel) were added. The neo-Gothic style used was fashionable at the time, and so our current building has two distinct styles. The congregation sits in the Georgian section while the choir sits in the neo-Gothic part.
• The main Altar and the sanctuary panelling were given, in memory of those from the church choir from St Peter’s school who died in the Great War.
• Two members of the Formby family of Formby Hall were incumbents of St Peter’s for the major part of the 19th century. Monuments to them are on the west wall of the Formby Chapel.
• The present organ, installed in 2002, includes pipe work from the War Memorial instrument of 1949.