St Mary's Church, Lutterworth

St Mary’s Church, Lutterworth
View of the east end
Location	Lutterworth, Leicestershire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Previous denomination	Catholic Church
Website	https://www.lutterworthchurch.org/
History
Status	Church of England parish church
Dedication	Mary the Virgin
Consecrated	13th cent
Architecture
Style	English Gothic
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Leicester
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Loughborough
Deanery	Guthlaxton
Parish	Lutterworth

St Mary's Church is the ancient parish church of the town of Lutterworth, Leicestershire. It is a Grade I listed building^[1] and is a member of the Major Churches Network^[2]

History

The church building is 13th-century, with 14th- and 15th-century alterations. The church contains some surviving 15th-century wall paintings with the Lutterworth Doom appearing over the chancel arch and a depiction of the Three Living and the Three dead.^[3]

The spire on the church was blown down in 1703 and rebuilt in 1761. Sir George Gilbert Scott restored the building in 1866–1869.^[4]

The Irish statesman Robert le Poer was parish priest here c.1318.

Wycliffe

Wyclif Giving 'The Poor Priests' His Translation of the Bible by William Frederick Yeames, published before 1923.^[5]

The translator John Wycliffe was rector of the church between 1374 and 1384.^[1] It was in the Lutterworth rectory that he is traditionally believed to have produced the first translation of the Bible from Latin into English (see Wycliffe's Bible).^[6] His translation of the Bible into English started the Lollard movement.^[4]

The Lutterworth Wall Paintings

In spite of the significance of the church for early English Protestantism the church is home to a remarkable set of surviving pre-reformation murals. Painted during the 15th century (1400s) they consist of a large Doom over the chancel arch, with figures rising out of tombs and large seated Christ in majesty surrounded by angels, and a remarkably fine example of the Three Living and the Three Dead around the north aisle door. The paintings were uncovered and restored by Eve Baker in the 1980s.

The Lutterworth Wall Paintings

• 
  Interior of the nave, showing the Doom over the chancel arch
• 
  Close up of the Doom
• 
  The Three Living

References

1. Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1211040)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
2. "St Mary's, Lutterworth – Greater Churches". greaterchurches.org. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
3. AA Illustrated Guide to Britain. Drive Publications Limited. 1972. p. 183.
4. "Lutterworth Church of St Mary". Leicestershire and Rutland Churches. 12 August 2018.
5. Stone, Larry (11 December 2012). The Story of the Bible: The Fascinating History of Its Writing, Translation and Effect on Civilization. Thomas Nelson. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-59555-433-8.
6. "John Wycliffe: religious rebel and Bible translator". Harborough Museum. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2018.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Leicestershire
• The Coventry Doom Painting
• The Pickering Wall Paintings
• The Raunds Wall Paintings
• The Slapton Wall Paintings

External links

• Lutterworth Church

52°27′19″N 1°12′11″W