No. 2 College Street, Ludlow, Shropshire, England, Tel: +44 01584872073

Street View of St Laurence's Church Ludlow | Map of St Laurence's Church Ludlow location

Sometimes described as ‘the Cathedral of the Marches', the building of today has evolved over more than eight hundred years. During that period the church has played a central role in the life of Ludlow, echoing the changing pattern of national worship, and accommodating many community events. As befits a Greater Church, St Laurence's is architecturally distinguished, and has many artistic treasures: in stone, glass and wood. In 1540 the King's agent John Leland described St Laurence's as: Very fayre and large and richly adorned and taken for the fairest in all these quarters. In 1999 St Laurence's was one of only 18 churches given a FIVE STAR rating by Simon Jenkins in England's Thousand Best Churches. Though mostly rebuilt in the 15th century, parts of the present church date from an earlier rebuilding in 1199-1200. This replaces a Norman church, but the site had been a revered place since the Bronze Age when a burial mound was erected, later giving the prefix ‘lud' to the place name Ludlow. The church has a cruciform plan, with a nave and chancel of equal length. Between them are two transepts and a huge bell tower, rising from the crossing. The church stands at the heart of the medieval town, with a large churchyard (now closed) on the north side. The church has features of the Norman, Early English and Decorated periods, including the delightful hexagonal south porch. It protects a remarkable collection of artistic treasures, including good medieval and later glass, well carved fifteenth century misericords and bench-ends, a fine series of memorials and a superb Snetzler organ. Visit Us: Open daily throughout the year. 10am to 5.30pm Summer, 11am-4pm Winter. St Laurence's Church is visited by some 40,000 people from the UK and all over the world. We have a number of helpful Guide Books and Leaflets. As you enter St Laurence's Church, a Steward is usually on hand to give you a free Leaflet, which tells you about the church. These mini-guides are also available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Polish. A complete Guidebook in English may be purchased at the Bookstall. There are also booklets about: The Misericords in the High Chancel, The Snetzler Organ, The Windows and other items of local interest. You will find more about these at the Bookstall. Visiting the church is, or course, free of charge. ....