The List of Rectors shows an unbroken line from 1320.  There is evidence however that the parish had the services of clergy for a century before then. Of interest are the three Rectors in 1348-9 (the Black Death), three in 1488-9, and five in 1543-55 in the troubled times of the Reformation. In contrast, John Lovell and John Shipton each served for almost half a century. In 2002 the Parish became a Team Ministry. It is now served by a Team Rector and two Team Vicars.

Fred Weatherly who wrote the words to 'Danny Boy' used to worship at St Peter's. His family is buried in the churchyard although his grave is in Bath. A Bristol barrister, he wrote the words of many of the best-known Victorian and Edwardian songs and ballads. 'Roses of Picardy' and 'The Holy City' are known to all, as are the words of 'Danny Boy'. His 1,500 lyrics also include 'The Boys of the old Brigade' and 'The Green Hills of Somerset'. He collaborated with many composers, such as Stephen Adams and Eric Coates, and with such singers as Dame Clara Butt (who stayed in Portishead for a time).

Eight Ladies who were members of Portishead Tower rang a peal of eight bells in 1915. Has this ever been equalled?? Six of the bells were recast by Bilbie of Chew Stoke in 1772, the others added later.  After recent work all are now on roller bearings.  The clock was installed in celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 and is an excellent timekeeper. There is no face on the western side - it is said that the people there would not contribute towards the cost. The National Archive of Ladies Bell Ringers for Great Britain is kept in St Peter's Tower.

The Portishead War Memorial is situated on the North Wall of St Peter's. It was placed over and blocked a medieval door to the North side of the church. It includes the 64 men who gave their lives in the First World War (one quarter of the eligible male population of Portishead) and the 33 in the Second.  The memorial was first dedicated on 4 August 1921, seven years to the day from the outbreak of World War 1.  On the outside wall behind the War Memorial the original north doorway into the church can be seen. Children are told that this is the Devil's Doorway - it is a blind doorway, so he cannot get in! Blocking the doorway was perhaps another way of saying that the people of Portishead wanted nothing more to do with the evil (Devil) that the carnage of the First War represented !!

The fine stone pulpit in St Peter's was probably set up around 1600, and the Norman font must be the oldest piece of carved stone in Portishead.

An interesting wall monument just inside the door of the choir vestry commemorates Rector Shipton's son who fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

On the exterior south wall of the chancel is a small blocked doorway. It is of 14th century date and gave the priest access to the Chancel without using the main nave entrance. Scratched into the wall near the priest's door are lines for a primitive sundial, called a Mass Dial .  These relics of the past are now rare. In the days before clocks the shadow of a peg or pin would have told the priest when it was time for service.  (What did he do if it was raining?)

Near the main Porch is sited the Portishead Village Cross which in so many villages stood at a road junction - originally in this case where Church Road South joined the High Street, once the heart of the village.

Portishead churchyard has its share of interesting monuments.  The oldest named tomb surviving is that of John Hobbes, Yeoman, who died in 1614. This is across the path from the Village Cross.

In the more modern part of the churchyard, near the entrance gates further up Church Road North, are situated the graves of Percival Victor Halliwell who was killed during the Blue Bird Speed Trials on Lake Windermere in June 1930, and of Commander E G L Robinson whose aeroplane crashed at Redcliffe Bay in November 1938. He piloted the plane that took Neville Chamberlain to see Hitler in 1938.