The dedication of the Parish of River Church has varied over the years. From earliest times until 1486, the dedication was to St. Peter. From then until the Reformation it was given the dual dedication of St. Peter and St. Paul. Then the name St. Peter was deleted until 1876 when the Saint's name reappeared in the records. Today the church is under the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Diocese of Canterbury and the Deanery of Dover.