Many visiting the wonderfully preserved and atmospheric village of Lacock and the adjacent Lacock Abbey never make it as far as the church. This is a pity, as it has much of interest.
The present building replaced an earlier Norman church, and oldest parts are its transepts, and date from around 1300. The rest of the church was rebuilt on the back of the area's wool wealth in the 15th century, in the Perpendicular style. The impressive Lady Chapel was added around 1430; and in the 17th century a peculiar "church cottage" of three storeys was attached to the south transept. Restored by Sir Arthur Blomfield in 1861, the chancel was remodelled in 1902 as a memorial to the photographic pioneer (and owner of nearby Lacock Abbey) William Henry Fox Talbot. A more recent claim to fame is that in 2006 it hosted the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles, daughter of the Queen Consort.
The interior comprises a three-bay with aisles, and is impressive throughout for its height, including the transepts which are unusually lofty and impressive, and match the nave and clerestory combined. The most impressive part is, however, the Lady Chapel, which has a splendid vaulted ceiling, still bearing traces of original paint. Here lies the church's most important monument, to Sir William Sharington (d. 1553). His tomb chest is dated 1566, and is early Renaissance in style: Pevsner regards it as "one of the finest 16th century pieces of decoration in England". It combines delicate strapwork, arabesque and shell decoration, and two putti. Again, traces of colour survive.
The church has another monument of interest, a brass to Robert Baynard (d.1501) and his wife and eighteen children - fifteen boys and five girls. It appears from the brass that all the children survived infancy.
The church is open during daylight hours for visitors, and has regular services as part of a combined benefice with Corsham.
St Cyriac, Church Street, Lacock SN15 2LB
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