Leominster - Priory Church of St Peter and St Paul

The Benedictine priory of Leominster (Historic Churches Trust), was founded in 1123, succeeding an earlier nunnery. All that remains of the monastic buildings is the nave and north aisle of the church, for the eastern parts and virtually all the monastic buildings were destroyed after the Dissolution in 1539.

In the 13th century the Norman south aisle was replaced by a second nave for parochial service, leaving the old north nave for monastic use. To the new nave was added a wide south aisle in about 1320, and the fine earlier south porch was moved out to its present position. In 1699 a fire devastated the church, destroying most of the furnishing, while the arcade between nave and south aisle was so severely damaged that it was relaced by a row of classical pillars. These in turn were replaced by the present slender Gothic-style pillars in the 19th century. So much history is necessary for one to understand the unusual and otherwise puzzling plan of the building. Before entering the church, go round to the west end to look at the fine west doorway (c.1150), and particularly the carvings on the capitals. The huge window nearby, with its mullions developed into buttresses, is 300