St Mary's Church, Luton, Medieval Anglican church in Luton, England
St Mary's Church is an Anglican church in the centre of Luton, built on a cruciform plan with aisles running in several directions and a number of chapels attached to the main body. The building is made of stone and flint, with a tower, a transept, and a chancel forming the core of the structure.
The current building was begun in the early 12th century under Robert, First Earl of Gloucester, on the site of an earlier place of worship linked to King Athelstan. Over the following centuries, chapels and extensions were added one by one, giving the church the layered form it has today.
St Mary's remains a working church at the heart of Luton, used regularly for worship and community gatherings. Its interior chapels each carry a different feel, reflecting the many local families and groups who shaped them over the years.
The church sits in the centre of Luton and is easy to reach on foot from the main shopping and transport areas. As services take place regularly, it is worth checking opening hours before you visit to make sure the building is accessible.
The outer walls are faced with a checkerboard pattern of flint and stone that is rarely seen in this part of England, giving the building an unusual look. Inside, the font is topped by a 14th-century octagonal wooden canopy, a type of cover that has survived in very few English churches.
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