It was erected close to one of the four city gates. The quarter around it was called St. Peter’s quarter.

The church fell into disuse but was revived in the 18th century. In 1876 it was decided to build a new church.

There was an all-German design competition in 1877. The designs by architects August Hartel and Constantin Lipsius were chosen. Construction began in 1882. Laying the foundation stone was celebrated on 17 September of the same year. It was dedicated on 27 December 1885.

The St. Peter’s Church, built in a Gothic Revival style, has the highest tower of any church in Leipzig, at 285 feet. Its exterior is richly decorated, with stained-glass windows and a large portal on the western side.

Currently, the interior is bare of pews, using folding chairs. The apse is in the shape of a semicircle within a pointed arch. The nave is wide, comparatively speaking.

St. Peter’s Church is open every day.