St. Margaret's Church, Leicester

Saint Margaret's Church is a historic Anglican prebendal and parish church located on Saint Margaret's Way in Leicester. Recognized by John Leland as “the fairest parish church in Leicester”, it is particularly notable for its grand 15th-century chancel and imposing west tower, which houses a peal of 14 bells. The church’s fan-vaulted south porch and stair turret are unique architectural elements in Leicestershire, as highlighted by Nicholas Pevsner. Designated a Grade I listed building, Saint Margaret’s stands as an enduring monument to Leicester’s medieval past.

First mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086, Saint Margaret’s Church predates the Norman Conquest. Located near Leicester’s vanished Roman walls, it once served a large medieval parish, including Saint Mary Magdalene, Knighton. Unlike other Leicester churches, which came under Leicester Abbey’s control after 1143, Saint Margaret’s remained under the Bishop of Lincoln due to an earlier arrangement with the Earl of Leicester. By 1220, it became a prebendal church, later shifting to the Diocese of Peterborough after the Reformation. Its prebend was dissolved in 1878, leading to the formation of new parishes.

Architecturally, Saint Margaret’s reflects a mix of medieval styles. The transept dates to around 1200, while the aisles were built in the late 13th century. However, the majority of the church was rebuilt in the Perpendicular Gothic style around 1444, under William Alnwick, Bishop of Lincoln. The west tower, standing at 108 feet (33 meters), was a key feature of this reconstruction.

During the Victorian era, the church underwent restoration work: first in 1860 by George Gilbert Scott, and later in 1881 by George Edmund Street. Its interior is further adorned with stained glass by Thomas Willement (1840s) and William Wailes (1864). The organ, originally built in 1773, has been significantly expanded over time, with its specifications preserved in the National Pipe Organ Register.