However, somewhere between 1130 and 1140 Peter Corbezun, a descendant of the king's tenant at the time of the Doomsday Book in 1086, founded a small Augustinian Priory here. This foundation was later removed to Studley and St Peter's, along with half of the village of Witton, together with other churches and property, became part of the endowment of this new priory. The manor of St Peter remained in the possession of the Priors of Studley until the dissolution of the monasteries began in 1536. On the outside wall of the south transept is a stone coffin lid, attributed to a 131h century Prior of Studley.

In the present building the chancel contains the earliest work, probably dating from the time of Peter Corbezun's foundation of the Priory. The wide arch separating the chancel from the nave is a fine example of Norman architecture; the north wall also contains three small Norman windows which were blocked up in 1780 but rediscovered in 1853 when much restoration work was carried out during the period when Canon (later Archdeacon) William Lea was Vicar. In the same 18th century renovations the Norman east window was removed and a modern one inserted. The present window was installed by Archdeacon Lea and the glass is designed by Preedy of Worcester. The three Norman windows in the south wall were removed or blocked during alterations in the 14th and 15th centuries.

On the walls of the chancel can be seen memorials to the Nash family, once owners of the manor, including Dr Treadway Nash the Worcestershire historian. The oak choir stalls were the gift of the Revd EH Blackwood-Price (Vicar 1906-16), and were made by a local craftsman, Mr W Fowke.

In the north transept, which was added in the 14th century, there is an impressive monument to George Wylde. He was an eminent lawyer in the 16th century and lived at The Heriotts. Near him lies his wife and a stone to her memory is on the east wall of the Winslow Vestry, formerly the outside wall of the church.

The Norman nave was drastically altered in the time of Henry Vll, when the present roof was inserted, probably moved from another building which necessitated erecting the odd half timbered clerestory to make the roof fit the walls. The earlier roof was high-pitched and the line of it can be seen on the outside of the church. On the north wall of the nave is a memorial to Edward Winslow, born in St Peter's parish in 1595 and baptized in this church. He sailed to America in the Mayflower with the Pilgrim Fathers, and became an important member of the community there, being appointed first Governor of Massachusetts. There is a portrait of him in the council chamber in St Richard's House in Droitwich. The Winslow Vestry, the church meeting room built onto the north-west corner of the church, was dedicated to the memory of Edward Winslow in 1972.

The font is Jacobean, probably a copy of an older one, Saxon in design. Following the restorations of 1893 a variety of medieval tiles from different parts of the church were collected together and placed around the base of the font; some were also placed in the vestry floor.

Those from around the font have since been lifted and are now displayed in a panel on the west wall of the nave. They are of a type fired in the 15th century kiln discovered in St Mary's churchyard in the mid-19th century, and known as the Great Malvern Series.

In the south porch, the outer door was given in memory of a Droitwich resident, Dr Shirley Jones, in 1972. He made the tower screen and the "cross-keys" gate to the surrounding fields, which were placed by him in trust to the town to provide a permanent open space for the benefit of the people of Droitwich. Above the entrance to the church is the quotation "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32), a wry injunction to the inhabitants of a town founded on salt.

The tower was built about 1500, though the west doorway was cut later. For many years it was blocked by a gallery; this was removed in 1914 when the three oldest bells were brought back into action after many years of disuse. Six bells hang in the tower and three are of considerable antiquity. Three trebles were added in 1921 as a memorial to those who died in the 1914-1918 war. At one time a sanctus bell dating from about 1600 also hung in the tower, but this was stolen and has never been recovered. On the north wall is the oldest tombstone in the church, to John Wythe and his wife Isabel; she died in 1545.

The lych gate was erected in 1911 in memory of William Young, who lived at the adjoining Manor House.

We hope you have enjoyed your virtual visit to this ancient and beautiful place of worship. St Peter's is one of four parish churches in the Droitwich Spa Team Ministry and you are warmly invited to visit the other churches in the town or to join the congregations there for worship.