Parish of St Peter, London Docks , Church of England

Saint Peter's originated in a mission established by the Reverend Charles Lowder in 1856. Lowder believed that the church had a special mission to the dispossessed and deliberately moved to the poverty stricken Wapping area, then populated by dock workers, petty criminals and prostitutes. Lowder and his assistants established schools, clubs, canteens and other services to assist the poor. In 1866 a permanent church was established in Old Gravel Lane (now Wapping Lane). During the cholera epidemic of 1866 to 1867 Lowder worked to care for the sick and established a tent hospital. Lowder's successors were similarly dedicated to poor relief in the area.

For more information see: http://www.stpeterslondondocks.org.uk/section/11 (accessed May 2010).