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ST.
PETER'S CHURCH
By:
Michael C. Metzger
 This
church today is one of the oldest Episcopal congregations in Massachusetts.
Today it resides on the corner of Brown and St. Peter’s Street. Over the years
many prominent families have worshiped here ranging from the Hawthorne family,
to the Bowditch clan. In 1660 St. Peter’s Street was known as the lane to the
North River. Later it was known as Prison Lane, this was due to the proximity of
the Witch Craft Gaol which was at the corner of St. Peter’s Street and Federal
Street. Parts of the old jail were discovered while demolishing a house to make
way for the telephone company building which today still stands. Timbers from
the old goal are now stored at the Peabody Essex Museum. In 1692 when condemned witches were sent
to jail it was here that they were incarcerated. Prisoners
were to be brought to their executions it is said they walked down St. Peter’s
Street to Essex Street. The street would acquire it’s present name in 1738
shortly after the establishment of St. Peter’s Church in 1733. The North River
at one point would have washed up yards away from the foot of St. Peter’s
street to a cove which was known as Waller’s Cove, named after Christopher
Waller who lived where the 1812 jail today stands. When the railroad arrived in
Salem, tracks would be laid across the mouth of this cove. This resulted in a
basin which was named after the Church. Over
the years the cove was filled in, today there are no signs of this body of
water. In front of the church in the early days there would have been a town
pump. This is known from a photograph of the early building. Legend has it that
in the southwest front yard, is where a cutting from a weeping willow from
Napoleon's tomb rooted and grew for many years.
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following citation is required:
Metzger,
Michael C. St. Peter's Church.
1 January 2005. <http://www.hocuspocustours.com/> Date that you access
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