Saint Peters By-The-Sea Episcopal Church was established in November 1959 as a Mission of the Diocese of East Carolina with three families - six adults and six children as her charter members. Services were conducted in the American Legion Building by visiting Priests and Lay Readers from St. Anne's, Jacksonville. Mr. William Noe, a Seminary student, worked with the congregation in the Summer of 1960.

Construction began on the present Church building in the Fall of 1961 and Mr. Noe was ordained Priest in the Undercroft of the partially completed building in early 1962. Easter 1962 marked the first services conducted in the Sanctuary.

The Rev. Elmer A. Keiser served St. Peter's from November 1963 until his retirement in 1972. He was succeeded by the Rev. Reed Wood, Jr., who served from 1973 until 1975.

Father Keiser was asked to come out of retirement by the Bishop and served the congregation again from 1975 until 1976 and the arrival of The Rev. John S. Armfield, who served until his retirement in 1981. Our Office Building, completed in 1981, was dediated in memory of Father Keiser, and the Church Sign in honor of Father Armfield. The pews, pulpit and other woodwork in the Church were gifts from St. Mary's, Kinston, and the Altar, built in the early 1900's, is in memory of the Rt. Rev. Alfred A. Watson, first Bishop of the Diocese.

The Rev. M. Johnson Hagood II, a former Army Chaplain, began his tenure at St. Peter's in 1981 and retired in 2003.

St. Peter's has grown steadily since its small beginnings and now numbers approximately 175 persons representing 86 households whose mission it is to be a cohesive, supportive and loving family called to serve our community. We look to the future with joyful anticipation!