Hotels near the St Peter's Collegiate Church

No building is as synonymous with the history of Wolverhampton as St Peter's Collegiate Church. The church's glorious tower still soars over the town and can be seen for miles around. At night the illuminated building is stunning with its windows lit from inside - a testament to the city's motto "Out of darkness cometh light".

A church has been on this site since 994 AD when the Lady Wulfruna endowed the minster church of Heantun (or High Town), and the town soon became known as Wulfruna's Heantun, which led to the modern name of Wolverhampton.

Until 1847 the church was a royal free chapel - subject only to its Dean and the Monarch. Among the church's Deans are William the Conqueror's chaplain, Samson; Peter of Blois, who was secretary to Queen Eleanor and involved in dealings with King Henry II, Richard the Lionheart and King John; as well as also the man who crowned Elizabeth I, Owen Oglethorpe.

Parts of the church date from the early 1200s, and most of what we see today was built in the 1400s. The rare stone pulpit has its steps guarded by a large stone lion. There is a fine Victorian gothic chancel, and an ancient font which was restored in 1660. In the churchyard - the most ancient site in the city - is a carved Saxon pillar.

A fine statue recalls Admiral Leveson, who fought against the Spanish Armada, and a splendid memorial honours Sir John Lane, who helped Charles II escape after the Battle of Worcester. The West Gallery was built in the 17th century by the Merchant Taylors to accommodate the boys of Wolverhampton Grammar School.