The foundation of the church in Burnley is lost in the unrecorded past, but most historians agree that there was a small settlement at the crossing of the River Brun during the eighth century. 

There is a local tradition, associated with the ancient cross preserved in the garden of the former Grammar School some 50 yards north of the church, that Paulinus, later Bishop of York, was the first to preach the Gospel here in the seventh century. It was between then and 1122 that the first church was built.

Until the seventeenth century, life changed slowly in Burnley. In 1311 there were 53 families in the district and by 1650 this number had grown to 300, or approximately 1500 people. The growth of coal and textile trade transformed this small mainly farming community to a town of 4,840 people in 1801. However, this transformation was small compared with the changes which were to happen over the next hundred years when Burnley grew to an industrial area of more than 100,000 inhabitants. By 1900, St. Peter's had twelve daughter parishes.

  
   
  The Church Building      
  Burnley was one of three chapels in the Parish of Whalley in 1122, but there are no remains of the early medieval structure, except, perhaps, the base of the tower. The lower part of the tower was restored in the fourteenth century and in 1533 a major re-build took place. A small gallery was constructed at the west end in 1737 and the years 1789 and 1802 saw the addition of galleries to the south and north aisles respectively. In the alterations of 1802, the tower was raised by 30 feet to accommodate a new peal of eight bells.

It was in 1856 that the present form of the building began to take shape with new arches below the clerestory as the roof of the nave was raised. Further alterations in 1872-3, as a memorial to General Scarlett, included a vestry with a new organ built above it and enlargement of the sanctuary to its present size.

A porch was added to the south side of the church in 1889 and a clergy vestry to the south-east corner in 1902-3. 

During the twentieth century, as the town's population declined and more people relocated to outlying parts, the congregation diminished and the galleries were no longer needed. The last to go was the north gallery in 1957.

After nearly two centuries in the smoke-laden atmosphere of this industrial town, the outside of the building was cleaned in preparation for 850th anniversary celebration in 1972.

The church building was closed in 1989 due to structural movement and a fire prior to completion of repairs destroyed the nave roof. A re-ordered St. Peter's Church, minus pews, but with underfloor heating re-opened at the end of 1992.

In addition to maintaining its traditional role, it has become a popular venue for concerts during the past ten years.

  
   
  Information from A Short History and Guide to The Parish Church of St. Peter, Burnley, by J. T. Francis. This booklet is available in church.