St. Peter’s was founded in 1883 as a daughter congregation of Zion Lutheran Church which is still in existence and located at East 30th Street and Prospect Avenue. Zion itself was founded in 1834 by German immigrants.

The first location of St. Peter’s was on the corner of East 69th Street and Quincy Avenue. In 1902, the church moved to a new building, primarily a schoolhouse on the corner of East 79th Street and Sherman Avenue, and in 1913 erected a separate house of worship.

Between 1913 and 1938, St. Peter’s was instrumental in establishing a black mission which ultimately became St. Philip Evangelical Lutheran Church now located on Regalia Avenue off Kinsman Road. Before building its present sanctuary, St. Philip took over the 79th Street buildings from St. Peter’s.

In 1938, the church moved to its present location in Shaker Heights and the narthex walls contain the cornerstones and markers of the congregation’s three former churches of 1883, 1902 and 1913. The educational building and parish hall was dedicated in 1963.

A period of decline in membership set in during the 1960’s & 1970’s and for four years, 1978-1981, the church was without a permanent pastor. In 1982, however, with the help of the Mission Board of the Ohio District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a permanent pastor was assigned full time to help rebuild and revitalize the mission and ministry of St. Peter’s. The church had shown steady growth. The congregation changed status from a mission congregation and became self-supporting.

In 1993, St. Peter’s mission statement, “Embracing the world around us with the love of Jesus Christ” was developed. With the blessings of Jesus Christ, membership increased.