St Helen's Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch

St Helen's Church in Ashby-de-la-Zouch is the Anglican parish church of this Leicestershire market town in the English Midlands. It belongs to the deanery of North West Leicestershire in the Diocese of Leicester and ranks among the town's most important historic buildings. It stands right beside the ruins of Ashby Castle, and the history of the two is closely intertwined.

What is the history of St Helen's Church?

A church stood in Ashby as early as the 11th century. The Domesday Book, the medieval survey of England, records a priest in the settlement and a church dedicated to St Helen, which then consisted of just a nave. The building you see today has different roots, though. Its core mainly dates from work begun in 1474, when the 1st Baron Hastings rebuilt the church. He did so at the same time as he converted his neighbouring manor house into a castle. Hastings, Lord Chamberlain to Edward IV, thus raised a church and a fortified residence side by side, and the two neighbours became a statement of his standing.

The Hastings family remained patrons of the church for four centuries. Under the 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, the parish became a notable centre of Puritanism, the stricter strand of English Protestantism.

How has the church changed over the centuries?

The building was altered many times as the parish grew. Around 1670 the interior was refurbished to create more space for worshippers. A growing congregation called for further work in 1829. The biggest rebuild came in 1878-1880, when the nave was widened by adding two outer aisles. This allowed the church to hold far more people than it could in the Middle Ages.

What survives from the 15th century?

From the time of Baron Hastings, the tower, the Hastings Chapel and some of the buttresses and windows remain. The tower has four stages and is built in the Perpendicular Gothic style. Beneath it is a star vault, worth a look once you step inside.

What is the Hastings Chapel?

This is the south chapel of the church. It served as the burial vault of the Huntingdon family. It contains the tomb of Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, who died in 1561, and his wife Katherine. If you are interested in the story of English nobility, this is where you can see traces of the family that shaped the town's fortunes.

Is the church a listed building?

Yes. It is Grade I listed, the highest level of protection in England, which is given to buildings of exceptional historic and architectural interest.

How do I plan a visit?

The church sits in the centre of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, so it is easy to combine with a visit to the castle ruins. The two sites are a short distance apart, and their shared history with Baron Hastings helps explain how a local seat of power took shape in the 15th century. The church lies at roughly 52.747 N, 1.467 W. As it is a working parish church, keep quiet during services and respect those at prayer. It is wise to check opening times with the parish beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

When was the present St Helen's Church built? Its core mainly dates from work begun in 1474. An earlier church stood in the town in the 11th century.

Who paid for the rebuilding? The 1st Baron Hastings, who was converting his manor house into a castle at the same time.

What survives from the original structure? The tower, the Hastings Chapel and some buttresses and windows from the 15th century.

When was the church enlarged to its present size? The main rebuild took place in 1878-1880, adding two outer aisles. Earlier work was carried out around 1670 and in 1829.

Who is buried in the Hastings Chapel? Among others, Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, who died in 1561, and his wife Katherine.

Is it an active church? Yes, it is the town's Anglican parish church.