Location King's Lynn Denomination Church of England Phone +44 1553 772858 Dedication Margaret the Virgin | Country England Heritage designation Grade I listed Diocese Diocese of Norwich Archdeaconry King's Lynn | |
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Website stmargaretskingslynn.org.uk Former name(s) St. Margaret's Parish Church, King's Lynn Address 16 Church St, King's Lynn PE30 5EB, UK Similar True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum, Greyfriars Tower, Duke's Head Hotel - Kin, Castle Acre Priory, Lynn Museum | ||
King's Lynn Minster (St Margaret's) is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in King's Lynn.
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King s lynn minster illuminations
Benedictine priory
The church was established by Herbert de Losinga Bishop of Norwich in 1095 to serve a Benedictine Priory and dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. The priory was subordinate to the Priory of the Holy Trinity in Norwich.
Parish church
After the English Reformation St Margaret's became the parish church for the town of King's Lynn, and its property was used as an endowment for Norwich Cathedral. Prior Drake was made prebend of the fourth stall in Norwich Cathedral.
The central lantern and south-west spire collapsed in 1741 and there was a programme of rebuilding in 1745-46 by the architect Matthew Brettingham. Some of the bench ends and misericords dating from around 1419 are now found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, but the church still retains some .
The church is notable for the two-storey porch and the angel roof.
The church was given the title King's Lynn Minster in 2011.
Bells
The oldest bell is a Sanctus bell dating from 1657 by Thomas Norris. The main ring of 10 bells is in the key of C with a tenor weighing just over 28 cwt.
Organ
The organ dates from 1754 when it was installed by John Snetzler. The church organist for nine years from 1751 was the music historian and composer Charles Burney. The organ has been through many restorations and rebuildings since then, the latest in 2003 by Holmes and Swift. Specifications of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.