It is a Grade II* listed building[1] and occupies a prominent position in Leigham Court Road, Streatham.

Until Streatham Hill and West Norwood railway stations were opened in 1856, the area that became St Peter's parish was mainly rural, with some large villas along Leigham Court Road and Crown Lane.

The parish of St Peter was formed in 1870, the year in which the initial portion of the present church building, which had been designed by Richard Drew, was consecrated by Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Winchester.

[5] Based on statistics from the UK census, the Diocese of Southwark estimates the population of St Peter's parish was 12,400 in 2001 and 14,300 in 2011.

Much use is made of polychrome brickwork which, combined with clay tile roofing, turrets, varied fenestration, a stair-turret and a large wheel-window give the west frontage an asymmetrical but picturesque appearance.

Taking advantage of the lie of the land, the ground floor of the west end of the building houses a set of parish rooms.

The worship area occupies the upper part of the entire structure, being reached by a flight of steps and a ramp that lead to an entrance that opens on to the higher ground towards the east end of the site.

[8] The Church suffered wartime damage to the stained glass (below), and also to the external round turret which was destroyed by a flying bomb.