Saint Margaret's Church is the ancient parish church of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. It is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch and is notable for its large illuminated blue spire which can be seen across the town. The church is located on a hilltop on the north-western edge of the town centre and was used as a navigation landmark. The church is within the deanery of Lothingland and archdeaconry of Norfolk. It falls within the Diocese of Norwich which extends into north Suffolk.

History

The church is medieval and a Grade I listed building with an early 14th-century tower. It was founded by the Priory of St. Bartholomew in London which was granted the manor of Lowestoft in 1230 by Henry I. The church contains a wooden panel listing the parish priests since 1308. The church is built of flint and was substantially enlarged during the 15th century, with the aisles and nave dating from this period. It was refurbished during the Victorian period and the needle spire rebuilt in 1954, replacing the previous wooden spire which dated from 1483. It contains the only known glasswork produced by Regency artist Robert Allen, installed in 1819. The east window glass dates from 1891 and the church also contains glasswork from St Peter's church, a daughter church of St Margaret's which was demolished in 1975.

Incumbents

Vicars

Organists

Interior

Within the church the octagonal font dates from the 15th century. The brass lectern is a rare pre-Reformation lectern dating from around 1500. It also contains one of only two remaining banner stave lockers, a feature which is believed to be unique to this area of Suffolk. There are a number of memorials within the church. The north wall of the church contains a memorial to fishermen who lost their lives at sea between 1896 and 1923. After this date the memorial was moved to The Lowestoft Fisherman's and Sailor's Bethel. A war memorial chapel contains a wooden wall inscribed with the names of 711 Lowestoft men who died in the First World War.

Churchyard

The churchyard contains war graves of two service personnel of World War I, and seventeen of World War II.