St. Peter’s Church

A church has stood in Radway from mediaeval times, with traces of a much earlier church found during excavations in 2003 by the TV programme Two Men in a Trench. View the episode here. 

The original church stood in Westend, but was considered to be in such a dilapidated state it was decided to build a new church on a new site. The stone was used to build the present church, which was designed by the Gothic Revival architect Charles E Buckridge of Oxford, and consecrated in 1866. In 2016 we celebrated the 150th anniversary of its dedication. The remains of a previous church, dating from the Middle Ages, are still visible nearby along with the old graveyard.

Inside St Peter’s are memorials re-set from the previous church. They include the 15th-century effigy of a priest, the effigy of Captain Henry Kingsmill who fought for Charles I and died in the Battle of Edgehill, and the architect Sanderson Miller who died at Radway.

For decades people have gathered here to worship. The church has been a place of stability and hope through the years, where people come to celebrate, to give thanks in times of joy, to find comfort in times of sadness and grief, or simply to rest and pray. Many local families have come for baptisms, weddings and funerals or to celebrate the great festivals of Harvest, Christmas and Easter. 

The building has hosted concerts and other events over the years and is the home of the permanent Battle of Edgehill Exhibition, which tells the story of the battle fought locally and also the social history of the effect on local people at the time. 

Radway is part of benefice of Edgehill, one of the ‘Six Parishes’ – Combroke, Kineton, Radway, Ratley, Shotteswell and Warmington. Services are held in rotation at varying times in the six parish churches. Details are available in the monthly church newsletter, the ‘Parish Link’, (delivered to homes in the Parish) and on church notice boards. 

The Festival Choir performs at local churches for Easter, Harvest Festival and Christmas. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays at 7.15 pm in Ratley Church 6 weeks before festivals. All are welcome. Contact Shona Walton on 01295 670596. 

Contact details

Priest-in-Charge
The Reverend Barry Jackson
Tel: 01926 640248
Email: barry@edgehillchurches.org

Associate Minister (Part-time)
The Reverend Dr. Richard Cooke
Tel: 07592 544820 (urgent messages)
Tel: 01295 690213 (non-urgent messages)
Email: richard.cooke@covcofe.org

Churchwarden
Brian Douthwaite
Tel: 01926 640314

Methodist Church, Kineton
The Reverend Peter Powers
Tel: 07941 328155

St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Kineton
Father David Tams
Tel: 01608 685259