Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul

The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is an outstanding church primarily built during the 15th and 16th centuries, reflecting Lavenham's peak as a prosperous wool town. The chancel, featuring a crocketted spirelet, is the only remnant of the earlier 14th-century church. Wealthy wool merchants, particularly the Spring family and John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, were the main benefactors. Records indicate that the west tower was constructed between 1486 and 1495, with the upper section completed in the early 16th century. The west tower, which stands at 141 feet high, consists of four stages and is made of knapped flint and stone, distinguished by its unusual clasping buttresses. The nave measures 156 feet long by 70 feet wide and has seven bays, featuring impressive Perpendicular windows, a clerestorey, and richly decorated castellated parapets. The south porch is also ornately designed, showcasing fan vaulting and the arms of the De Vere family. Adjacent to the chancel is the Branch Chapel, dating from around 1500, and to the south is the Spring Chapel, dated 1525. The interior boasts exquisite details and fittings, including a rood screen from 1330-40 and intricately carved parclose screens in the north and south chapels. There are also monuments from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.