|
Lutterworth’s parish church has a long and noteworthy history
quite apart from its connection with “The Morning Star of
the Reformation”, John Wycliffe. It stands today as one of
the great medieval churches of the Midlands.
A wooden structure probably stood on the site prior to the Norman
Conquest but the earliest remaining portions of the present church
are the work of the de Verdun family and date from the late thirteenth
century. The original medieval church consisted of a nave, chancel
and west tower. The nave and chancel were lighted by lancet windows,
two of which survive. The tower opened into the nave through a finely
moulded arch, which also survives, and was probably surmounted by
a short spire.
In the fourteenth century the north and south aisles were added,
together with a taller spire. The roofing of the aisles is considered
a particularly good example of the Decorated Period. In the fifteenth
century the walls of the nave were raised to form a clerestory and
the nave covered with a new low-pitched roof. Most of the lancet
windows were replaced with larger, perpendicular windows.
In 1703 the spire, which must have been a notable local landmark,
was destroyed in a great storm which wreaked havoc across the whole
country. The tower which replaced it is sufficiently tall to still
allow a commanding view of the church from many miles around.
By Victorian times the church was in a dangerous condition and a
complete restoration was undertaken between 1867 and 1869 under
the supervision of Sir Gilbert Scott. Happily, no great changes
were made to the structure, save that the west gallery was taken
down to reveal the tower arch and an organ gallery and vestry were
added in the northeast corner of the chancel.
A fortunate by-product of the restoration was the uncovering of
two medieval wall paintings w hich
had been white-washed over by the iconoclasts of previous centuries.
The fifteenth century “Dome” over the chancel arch represents
the Day of Judgement in gory detail and three crowned figures over
the door in the north wall are reputed to be Richard II, his Queen,
Anne of Bohemia, and his uncle John of Gaunt, the patron and protector
of John Wycliffe. However, it has long been established that the
three crowned figures are three anonymous kings, originally flanked
by three skeletons, making the point that even royalty must succumb
to death.
An addition to Lutterworth’s history is the Millennium Tapestry
that now hangs in the church. Credit for this wonderful tapestry
must go to Linda Jones and Sue Bayliss who dedicated many hours
to the project and encouraged all the community and visitors to
the town to add stitches to the tapestry.
The Tapestry depicts the history of Lutterworth and includes a panel
stitched by the ladies of Lutterworth’s twin town of Chambourcy
in France.
|
