St Margaret's Church, Leicester facts for kids
St Margaret's Church is a very old and important church in Leicester, England. It's a special kind of church called an Anglican parish church, which means it's part of the Church of England and serves a local area. This church is so historic that it's a Grade I listed building, meaning it's protected because of its unique history and architecture.
Quick facts for kids St Margaret's Church, Leicester |
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View from southwest
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| 52°38′25″N 1°08′11″W / 52.64030°N 1.13625°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad church |
| Website | https://www.stmargaretsleicester.com/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Margaret of Antioch |
| Administration | |
| Parish | The Abbey |
| Archdeaconry | Leicester |
| Diocese | Leicester |
| Province | Canterbury |
Contents
A Look Back: The History of St Margaret's Church
This church has a long and interesting history! Some parts of the church, like the cross-shaped sections (called the transept), were built around the year 1200. Other parts, like the side walkways (called aisles), date back to the late 1200s.
Most of the church was rebuilt around 1444. This happened under the guidance of William Alnwick, who was the Bishop of Lincoln at the time. The new style of building was called Perpendicular, which was popular back then. The tall west tower, which stands about 33 meters (108 feet) high, was also built during this period. It holds a set of 14 bells!
Later, the church had some major updates and repairs. These happened in 1860, led by George Gilbert Scott, and again in 1881, by George Edmund Street.
Inside the church, you can see beautiful stained glass windows. Some of these were made by Thomas Willement in the 1840s, and others by William Wailes in 1864.
Important Tombs and Monuments
The church is home to some interesting tombs. One of them is a stone statue (called an effigy) of John Penny. This statue, made of a stone called alabaster, dates back to 1520. John Penny was an important religious leader. He was the abbot of Leicester Abbey from 1496 to 1509, and later became the Bishop of Carlisle. His original tomb was replaced in 1846.
In the churchyard outside, you can find the tomb of Andrew Rollo, 5th Lord Rollo, which was built in 1765. This tomb is also very special and is protected as a Grade II* listed structure. It has cool slate carvings on its sides.
The Church Organ
The organ in St Margaret's Church is very old, dating back to 1773. Over the years, it has been made much larger. You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
Past Organists
Many talented musicians have played the organ at St Margaret's Church. Here are a couple of them:
- 1785–1845: Ann Valentine
- 1845–1897: George Augustus Löhr
