Our arts programme is geared to providing first class events that are stimulating, entertaining, inspiring and sometimes challenging. St. Peter’s is a highly versatile space with splendid acoustics.

Over the years we have hosted concerts by both modern groups and classical artists and choirs; art exhibitions which have included paintings, sculpture, ceramics and photography; literary and historical art/architecture talks and many comic and serious events in the performing arts.

A decade ago an annual art exhibition was started during September under the banner of ‘Artists of the Jurassic Coast’. This exhibition by local artists who concentrate on works inspired by the spectacular coastal scenes and topography has become a very popular event attracting up to 1,000 visitors each year, many of whom have never had the opportunity to see the interior of St. Peter’s. The exhibition enables artists to show their work to a wide cross section of the public, many of whom are tourists.

Dorset artist Stephen Bishop (www.stephenbishop.co.uk) is our resident artist during the bi-ennial Dorset Arts Weeks and has benefited from a steadily increasing demand for his work.

With its natural light through the spring, summer and autumn months, we hire the church space to other artists for their own painting exhibitions and musical events. Its excellent acoustics mean that St. Peter’s has also been used as a recording studio for both classical and modern musicians.