On a couple of recent trips to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, I was really struck by how St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church dominates the town’s skyline. From several vantage points in the city, you can see the church and its distinctive steeple.

The church was originally built in 1833. Many of the original worshipers at the church were Irish immigrants who were in Harper’s Ferry for the construction of either the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal or the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

St. Peter’s was the only church in Harper’s Ferry to survive the Civil War without damage. During the war, the local priest, Father Costello, flew a British flag over the church. Neither the Northern or Southern armies were willing to risk an international incident by damaging the church.

The church was remodeled in 1896 to it’s current appearance. Services are still held in the church on a weekly basis. The church is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston, West Virginia.

The front of St. Peter’s as seen from the Stone Steps leading up to the church.

(c) 2008 Patty Hankins

The steeple as seen from Jefferson Rock.

(c) 2008 Patty Hankins

The church steeple

(c) 2008 Patty Hankins

Side view of the church as seen from Hamilton Street.

(c) 2008 Patty Hankins

I’m hoping to get back to Harper’s Ferry in the near future. I’d really like to photograph the mountains, rivers and the church steeple from Jefferson’s Rock with all the wonderful colors of the fall leaves.