[2] The original church on the site was built at the behest of Benedict Biscop in AD 674–75, when the area was part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria.

Bede (circa 673–735) wrote that Benedict brought stonemasons and glassworkers from Gaul to build the church, as these crafts were not yet established in Anglo-Saxon England.

Its outer arch, at the west end of the porch, is of elaborate design and decorated with stone reliefs.

By the end of the 10th century further storeys had been added to the porch, raising its height to form the present west tower.

[1][5] In 1875–76 St Peter's was restored under the direction of the architects Hubert Austin and RJ Johnson, who had the north aisle rebuilt and the east window of the chancel replaced.