Redwood City was first settled in 1851 and grew slowly until the county seat was established here in 1856. The first paper in San Mateo County, the Gazette, started in Redwood City on April 9, 1859. Train service through Redwood City from San Francisco to San Jose was inaugurated on October 16, 1863.
The Rev. Giles A. Easton held the first Episcopal service in 1864 at the County Courthouse. The “Little Red Church” across the street from the old Post Office was built in 1867. For many years its bell tower and cross were a distinctive feature on the skyline of our fledgling town in the days when to call it a “city” was surely presumptuous!
In 1925 the vestry decided to move the church to the “suburbs,” our present location then being at the very edge of town. Until 1951 the space we currently use as our parish hall, in the guise of a California Mission, was used as the church.
With the tremendous growth of the Peninsula in the post-war years, the need for a much larger building resulted in the construction of our present church. As we enter the third millennium of Christian history, The Episcopal Church of St. Peter is prepared to meet the needs of a new generation. We are a growing community dedicated to the joy of making Christ known in an ever more complex and diverse Redwood City.
A history of St. Peter’s, written by Father Chip drawing from other histories in the parish archives, was published in Pacific Church News in March 2000. Click the icon below to download it in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
The Mosaic Cross — over the entrance contains six stones from the Holy Land, while water from the Jordan River was used to mix the cement for their setting. The fishes and anchor signify St. Peter’s occupation as a fisherman, while the rooster reminds us that he denied that he knew the Lord three times before the rooster crowed. The bishop’s mitre with the flames of Pentecost represents the apostolic authority of Peter.
The Cornerstone — of the church, marked by the brass plaque to the left inside the entrance, was laid in 1951. It contains a Bible, a Book of Common Prayer, newspapers of the day, a stone from the altar of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, stones from York and Canterbury Cathedrals, and a piece of the ancient Roman theater in Ephesus where St. Paul preached.
The ‘Nunc Dimittis’ Bronze — to the right as you enter the church represents the Presentation of the infant Christ in the Temple. It is by the sculptor Frances Rich and was commissioned by the Roth family of Filoli.
The Walnut Cross suspended over the altar is titled “The Risen Christ Victorious” and was carved in walnut by the San Francisco artist, Ruth Cravath. The crucifix’s halo of copper, brass and red enamel was designed by Phil Pratt.
The Stained Glass Windows — are the treasure of the church, designed by the renowned French artist, Gabriel Loire of Chartres.
Beginning at the end nearest the altar on the left, they represent:
- The Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary
- The Nativity or Birth of our Savior
- The Crucifixion
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension of Christ (“...and is seated at the right hand of the Father...”)
- The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
On the right, also from the altar:
- Christ changing water into wine at Cana’s wedding feast
- The miracle of the loaves and fishes (Christ our True Food)
- The calming of the tempest at sea (Christ Triumphant over Chaos)
- The healing of a boy (Christ our Healer)
The Altar is made of Tennessee sandstone and weighs nine tons. Set into the left back side of the altar is an early Christian oil lamp from the tomb of the 3rd century martyr St. Demetrius of Thessalonica. This was a gift of the Orthodox Church to St. Peter’s signifying the close ties between the Episcopal and Orthodox Churches.