Midland Catholic History Society:  Visit to Ludlow

Midland Catholic History Society:  Visit to Ludlow on Wednesday 25 September 2024

Please find below details and booking form for the visit to Ludlow. The booking fee includes the cost of the guided visit to the church of St Laurence.

It is a fairly full programme and so, in order to stick to the timetable, we need to remain together for lunch if possible. A venue has been identified which is very close to the two churches and the museum; it offers a very reasonably priced lunch menu. Once we have a better idea of the numbers attending arrangements can be put in place and information about the menu distributed; the fee for the visit does not include the cost of lunch which will be payable on the day.

Non-members are also very welcome to join the visit.

If you can let me have your booking by 10 September that would be very helpful as I shall be away from 11-18 September.

Vincent Burke

Email – [email protected]

Programme

• 10.30  Parish Mass at St Peter’s church
• 11.00  Coffee and Annual General Meeting
• 11.20  Visit to church and talk from Canon Walsh
• 12.30  Ludlow Museum (Katherine of Aragon chasuble)
• 1.00    Lunch (further information to follow)
• 2.15    Guided visit to church of St Laurence
• 3.30    Tea and departure

Booking form

St Laurence's Church, Ludlow

A grade I listed building, it was one of only 18 churches given a five-star rating in England's Thousand Greatest Churches by Simon Jenkins.

The parish church was established as a place of worship in association with the founding of Ludlow by the Normans in the late 11th century. It is situated atop the hill around which the medieval town developed. The church was rebuilt in the year 1199 and has had several later additions and modifications.

In the late Middle Ages considerable wealth accrued to the town based upon the wool trade. Correspondingly the church underwent several further additions in that era. The major works occurred between 1433 and 1471 with a virtual re-building of the nave, tower and chancel elements. The large east window of the chancel underwent restoration in the year 1832; this window depicts the martyrdom of St Laurence. The most extensive repairs and re-ordering occurred in the period 1859 to 1861, which included new roofs, masonry glazing repairs as well as renewing all floors and seating. Further major restorations took place on the tower in 1889–91, and to the roof in 1953–59.

St Peter, Ludlow

The foundation stone of the church was laid by Bishop Ambrose Moriarty and blessed on the 9th May 1935. The church is built in natural stone from Oreton Quarry at Farlow, Clee Hill.

The barrel roof, dome, arches and pillars are of reinforced concrete a unique use of new technology at the time. The Architect was Dr. Giuseppe Rinvolucri of Conway 1894 – 1963. The style is neo-Byzantine and plain Romanesque. The dome is in the Byzantine style and signifying heaven and earth united in praising God.

The original motif for the interior of the dome was that of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit. In May 1993, however, Philip Jackson designed and made the current decoration. The twelve stars in gold leaf depict St. Peter and the other Apostles. The stained glass window at the east end is full of Ludlow Blue tint made by Hardman of Birmingham who also restored the glass in Ludlow’s pre-Reformation Parish Church of St. Laurence.