When the Rosminians first arrived in Cardiff in 1854, the town had a significant Roman Catholic population but only one place of worship, St David's chapel in the town centre. In 1858, a site was secured near City Road on a 999-year lease and the necessary funds were raised. Owing to Anti-Catholicism in the area, plans to extend East Grove, forming a junction with Richmond Road, were scrapped because the objectors did not want a Catholic church fronting a main street. The church was initially designed with a tower and spire, but these designs proved over-ambitious, and when the church was opened in 1861, it was without either. The early days of St Peter's were not easy. The area was much-afflicted by poverty and drunkenness, and was far away from the Catholic districts, making work challenging for early priests, and low attendance figures were often a problem. After the conversion of John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute to Catholicism in 1868, and a rigorous fundraising program, the situation began to improve, with the founding of a school in 1872. The presbytery was also added, in Gothic Revival by W.P. James. In 1883, the tower was finally added at the expense of Lord Bute. The stained glass in the sanctuary dates from 1882, each window costing £160. A statue of St Peter over the church entrance was added in 1912, and additional dormer windows were installed in 1926. As the Cathedral in the city centre had been very badly damaged during a 1941 air raid, pontifical functions moved into St Peter's between 1941 and 1945. St Peter's was also hit by an incendiary bomb, seeing extensive damage to the roof of the lady chapel. This damage was later repaired and the church was finally consecrated in 1948 after clearing the last of its debts. A parish hall was built in 1955 and the church became listed in 1975. The school was moved to a different location in 1977, and the old building was demolished in 1981. Between 1970 and 1987, the priest at St Peter's was Father Gil Jones, who welcomed the visitingPope John Paul II to Cardiff on 2 April 1982. The church was extensively redecorated in 2001.
