St. Peter's-San Pedro Episcopal Church

06/08/2026

Did you know? The oldest stained glass in St. Peter’s Church is found in the beautiful windows in our chancel, at the east end of the sanctuary. The chancel and windows were added to the present-day 1833 granite church building in 1845/6. The windows and altar screen were designed by famed architect Richard Upjohn, who is best known for his Gothic Revival churches. Among them is Trinity Episcopal Church in New York City, built at the same time as our church windows were created.

A dove appears at the top of the center window, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. In the center is a combined Star of David and cross, representing the Old and New Testaments. At the bottom, the lamb carrying the banner represents Jesus Christ as the “lamb of God” and his victory over sin and death.

06/07/2026

Join us for our weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist in our welcoming, affirming and historic church. All are most welcome here!

06/02/2026

On this day in 1774, newly appointed Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, British General Thomas Gage, arrived in Salem. Acts of Parliament had closed the port of Boston and instructed Gage to move the seat of government from that city to Salem, as punishment for the unruly behavior of Bostonians—particularly their destruction of tea in Boston Harbor the previous December.

Historian Gilbert L. Streeter wrote in 1896, “When General Gage came to Salem on June 2, 1774, accompanied by a retinue of gentlemen in carriages, a large number of the principal persons in the place—most of them tories—with various civil and military officers, went out on horseback to meet him, and escorted him hither in grand procession. He was entertained in fine style at the elegant mansion of Colonel William Browne and was complimented the next evening by a brilliant reception and ball in the Assembly.”

As the only Anglican church in Salem, the congregation of St. Peter’s Church was filled with Gage supporters, many of whom were surely in attendance on this momentous day.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride! You are loved!

05/31/2026

An auspicious date at St. Peter’s Church!

On this day in 1733, Philip English and members of his family deeded the land to build St. Peter’s Church for the nominal fee of five shillings. A double house was torn down to make way for the construction of Salem’s first Anglican house of worship. Today, St. Peter’s is the oldest Salem church still gathering on the land where it was founded.

In 1833, The Salem Gazette noted, “It is rather a remarkable coincidence that the tower, the last vestige of old St. Peter’s Church, was pulled down to give place to a new edifice, on precisely the same day of the same month, on which, one hundred years ago, the deed conveying the land on which the church was erected, to the proprietors of the church, was executed by Philip English. The land was purchased on the 31st of May, 1733. The tower was pulled down on the 31st of May, 1833.”

05/26/2026

You might have noticed the bells of St. Peter’s playing a selection of military anthems in honor of Memorial Day yesterday.

In 2018 when Fr. Nathan Ives first arrived at St. Peter’s Church, the carillon of ten bells, which was installed in the bell tower in 1885, was inoperable. The mechanism had been damaged by severe winter weather. Determined to restore it, Fr. Nathan did just that by 2019 and today, the automated bells are a favorite sound of Salem.

The next goal is to restore the old tolling bell, the oldest or second oldest church bell in the country. It was cast for St. Peter’s in 1740 by Abel Rudhall of Gloucester, England, and was installed and ringing by the following year. It has tolled for the death of every U.S. president. Since it was set aside in 1885 when the carillon arrived and can no longer swing, someone has climbed the tower stairs to strike it by hand. Most recently, Fr. Nathan, Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo, and Junior Warden Rob Surabian climbed up the four flights on a cold December night in 2024 to toll the bell 100 times in honor of President Jimmy Carter.

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

Just one week away!

Please join us on May 30 for a drag show fundraiser benefiting NAGLY and St. Peter’s Church! 🌈

05/21/2026

In 1892, St. Peter’s Church parishioner James B. Curwen donated a building on St. Peter Street, next door to the church, for use as a parish house. The building was used as a makeshift hospital during the Great Salem Fire of 1914.

On May 21, 1935, the vestry voted unanimously to build a new parish house. It was completed by early 1937, and was dedicated by Bishop Henry Sherrill in February of that year. Today St. Peter’s parish hall is used for community meetings, lectures, church suppers, theater productions, and more.

05/18/2026

Please join us on May 30 for a drag show fundraiser benefiting NAGLY and St. Peter’s Church! 🌈