St Mary
Brent Eleigh, Suffolk
Just one mile east of the tourist hotspot of Lavenham, St Mary’s possesses hidden gems with the earliest and finest set of altar wall paintings in England (according to experts).
For about 150 years, between the end of the 14th century and the middle of the 16th, Lavenham was one of the richest towns in Britain. Our church tower was completed in 1525 and stands 43 metres tall. Many of Lavenham's splendid timber framed buildings date from this prosperous period, as does the church.
The church itself was built in the years immediately following the Tudor victory at the Battle of Bosworth, in 1485. It was paid for by John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, one of the most powerful men in England, and Thomas Spring II and his son Thomas Spring III. John de Vere was captain of Henry VII's army at the Battle of Bosworth. Thomas Spring was a wealthy cloth merchant. Between them they created a most beautiful church, a fine example of late medieval English church architecture, completed just before the Reformation changed things for ever.
Work began with the stupendous tower, built of flint faced with limestone imported from Northamptonshire. Set into the tower, and clearly visible from the ground, is the de Vere star, one of their symbols. The other de Vere symbol, a wild boar, can be seen in the south porch and in the nave.
The only feature from the 14th century nave was the spirelet, kept to hold the Sanctus bell. The chancel retains its fine 14th century arch.
The glory of the interior is the nave, with its elegant piers and fine 15th century roof, the rare 14th century chancel screen, and the screens at the ends of the aisles. These two parclose screens are outstanding, the north one was made in the 1520s. It's a wonderoud example of wood carving, and was built by the Spring family. It has wonderful, intricate wood carving. The south screen is less elaborate and was built by the Spourne family.
There are excellent misericords in the chancel. They include musicians, a jester, and an ibis and a spoonbill, reminders that East Anglia in the Middle Ages was very much wilder and wetter than it is now, and these two birds, very rare in Britain today, were common then.
Browse our second hand book stall and souvenir shop.