St Peter and St Paul's Church, Lavenham, Gothic parish church in Lavenham, England
St Peter and St Paul's Church is a Gothic parish church in Lavenham, where a limestone and flint tower reaches 138 feet (42 meters) above the medieval streets with detailed stone carvings throughout. The building shows the craftsmanship of the 15th and 16th centuries through its elaborate design and well-maintained interior spaces.
Construction of the church began in 1485 after the Battle of Bosworth, funded by local cloth merchants and the Earl of Oxford who wanted to display their wealth. The building took decades to complete, showing how successful traders shaped their communities through grand religious structures.
The carved wooden choir seats inside feature scenes of medieval musicians and local wildlife that show what daily life looked like in this region centuries ago.
The church sits in the heart of the medieval town and is easy to reach on foot from most places in Lavenham. Check beforehand when services take place to ensure you can visit all areas, as some sections may be restricted during worship.
A protective screen from the early 1500s displays the Spring family's coat of arms repeated thirty times on the exterior, an unusual way of advertising a merchant family's status and influence. This repeated symbol offers insight into how important the textile traders were to Lavenham's prosperity.
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