The handsome pink sandstone parish church of Ludlow just N of the marketplace is one of the finest in England. It was the most prosperous parish church in the county and its 135' high crossing tower can be seen for miles around. The dominant architectural style is Perpendicular, with Victorian 'restorations'. The main entrance to the church is through a hexagonal porch on the S aisle.
The Prince's Players are on record for their performance in the church in 1540--1, before the Palmers' Guildhall was acquired for civic use. The probable performance space in the church in the 1540s would have been the nave rather than the high chancel, accessible only to the clergy.
Still a parish church, open to the public at specified times.
ca. 1200 Work began on the E end of the church. 14th c. Decorated style S porch and transepts added. N aisle rebuilt. ca. 1440--50 Nave and chancel heightened with clerestories; chancel extended by 1 bay. The rood screen and choir stalls are from the same period. late 15th c. Tower built. ca. 1500 Transepts raised, Lady Chapel and windows in the E end of the S aisle added. Before the Reformation there were 20 chantry chapels in various parts of the church. 1548 Rood taken down and chantry chapels dismantled, to be replaced by box pews the following year. 1550 Walls whitewashed. 1615 Scholars' gallery built over the S aisle.
1750 New galleries built over N and S aisles. 1832 E window restored. 1859--60 Restorations by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Galleries and box pews removed, some windows restored or replaced. 1870--1909 Further restoration and repairs, especially the 1889--91 work on the S chapel and tower by Sir A. Blomfield. late 19th c. Further restoration.
REED Shropshire 1.77
