St. Peter's Church, Liverpool

As you approach Saint Peter’s Church on Church Road in Woolton, look for the large red sandstone building with pointed Gothic windows and a square bell tower rising high above the surrounding rooftops. Opened in 1887 to accommodate Woolton’s growing population, this neo-Gothic sanctuary is one of Liverpool’s largest parish churches. Its 90-foot bell tower stands on one of the highest points in the city.

Still, Saint Peter’s is particularly famous for its connection with The Beatles. To find the spot where their story began, head back out to Church Road and look across the street. You'll see the red-brick church hall, easily identified by its steeply pitched roof and three tall arched windows. A commemorative plaque on the building marks the place where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met on July 6, 1957.

That afternoon, Lennon had performed with his skiffle group, The Quarrymen, at a church fête in a field behind Saint Peter’s. Later that evening, while waiting to perform at a dance in the church hall, he was introduced to 15-year-old McCartney by a mutual friend. McCartney impressed Lennon with his guitar playing and musical knowledge, and soon joined the group. Their partnership would eventually form the creative heart of The Beatles.

Now, return to the churchyard, where you will find another Beatles-related landmark. Among the gravestones, look for the memorial bearing the name Eleanor Rigby. The woman died in 1939, and her name is famously shared with the title of The Beatles' 1966 song. Whether McCartney consciously drew inspiration from the gravestone remains uncertain, but it has become a popular stop for Beatles fans.

Also buried here is George Toogood Smith, John Lennon's uncle, who helped raise him alongside Aunt Mimi. She regularly attended Saint Peter’s, while Lennon himself occasionally sang in the church choir.

If the church is open, step inside to admire the stained-glass windows, high timber roof, and decorated chancel at the far end of the nave. Look towards the altar, framed by an elaborate Gothic screen, with a large stained-glass window behind it.

Saint Peter’s remains an active parish church, but for music lovers, it also marks the place where one of rock music’s most successful songwriting partnerships began.