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The Nave
is the large central area where people sit. The word comes from the Latin
'Navis' which means a ship. The gilded angels in the roof bear the emblems of our Lord's
suffering. At the West end is the raised choir gallery erected when the church became
a Cathedral in 1927. The organ was built by Harrisons of Durham and you will find the
instrument described on the main tour or music page. |
Underneath the gallery is to be found glass entrance doors given
in 1996 by Clare Hilton
'to glorify God in gratitude for Christian faith, hope and love'.
The design depicts the parting of the Red Sea
and the pillar of fire and cloud, the Exodus story of the flight of the Children of Israel from Egypt. The consultant for this work was Sally Scott,
who has worked under commission for many churches and public buildings including Westminster Abbey,
the Royal Albert Hall and Llandaff and St Albans Cathedrals.
Incidentally, the West End re-ordering was part of our partnership with the City Council
in the construction of a Joint Visitor Centre. |
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At the front of the gallery is a wooden statue covered in gold leaf of
Jesus. Looking Eastward you will see the wonderful gilded rood screen.
On a pillar opposite the door in the North Aisle stands a statue of St Martin dressed
as a Roman soldier.
Many important people have visited St Martin's - King Charles I worshipped here twice.
One of his friends was Sir John Whatton, the High Sheriff of Leicestershire. His memorial
and that of his two wives is placed on the north wall. In the North Transept there is a large painting
"The Scourging of Christ" and a three panelled piece (known as a triptych). Against the tower pillar
is a tombstone, re-used several times since 1400 and above it is the carved frieze from the original
Norman stonework.
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You pass through the screen into the Chancel.
The Canons' stalls are used for the Cathedral Clergy to meet each day to praise God and to pray for City and County, Bishop and Diocese.
Why not visit us one morning or evening? Service times are shown on the appropriate page. The other stalls are named after people,
some local, who have contributed much to the Christian Church - St Augustine, Simon de Montfort, Handel and Gabriel Newton.
On the floor between the stalls is placed the memorial stone to King Richard III. After he was killed at Bosworth field in 1485 his body
was buried in the Grayfiars graveyard in St Martins parish. Later he was dug up and his skeleton thrown into the nearby river.
In the sactuary is situated the Bishop's throne on which is carved an image of St Martin on horseback. Above the high altar is the
great east window erected as a memorial to those who suffered in the First World War. It symbolises the power that rules the universe
and the hope for peace. Saints represented are George (England), Joan of Arc (France), Michael (Belgium) and Martin (soldiers and Leicestershire). |
The Chapels
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St Katharine's Chapel is on the north
side of the Cathedral to the left of the sanctuary.
For centuries the Herrick family provided mayors, town clerks and clergy for Leicester. Later the Herricks lived in Beaumanor
Hall near Loughborough, which is now an education centre.
Behind the altar is a carved panel showing Jesus on the cross with Mary his mother and John on either side of him. In the window above
is St Katharine who was tied to a wheel and tortured (hence the firework named after her). On the left is St Francis of Assisi.
On the right is the 17th century poet Robert Herrick. He became rector of a Devon parish and is shown seated in the garden.
The chapel is also known as the Herrick chapel.
The small door in the north west corner leads to Guildhall Lane and was used by pregnant women to pray to Katharine for safe delivery.
It also leads to the steps up to the belfry. |
St Dunstan's Chapel on the other side of the chancel is specially put aside for
local people to pray in. There is a candle burning in a hanging lamp to show that the bread and wine which is the sacrament
of Christ's body and blood is kept here to take to those who are too ill to come to church. On one pillar there is a special
picture called an ICON. It shows Mary holding Jesus and is painted in the Orthodox style. On the walls are many memorials
to people who have prayed here. St Dunstan was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 10th century and scenes from his life are
depicted in the south-east window. Behind the altar is a carved panel showing - Dunstan, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
and St Martin. Dunstan is holding a hammer, no doubt a bell hammer, as he is the patron saint of bell ringers.
On the altar is carved a Christmas scene of the birth of Jesus. Above it, the east window shows people being
raised from the dead - the widow of Nairn's son, Lazarus and Jairus's daughter.
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During the Middle Ages St Georges Chapel was the chapel of the Guild of St George.
The effigy of England's national saint, on a horse, was kept here and bourne through the streets annually on 23rd April in a
procession known as 'riding the George'. The legend of George killing a dragon is shown in one of the chapel's windows.
The chapel, enclosed by a carved wooden screen, was reconstructed in 1921 and contains memorials to the men of the Royal
Leicestershire Regiment. Here the battle honours of the Regiment and the names of those killed in the Crimean, South African
and two World Wars are recorded and remembered. The regiment we call 'The Tigers' has a long and proud history. The tiger in the
badge is shown in various ways around the chapel. | |
Today in the modern British Army, the regiment is amalgamated with others.
However, the name lives on, not least with the Leicester Rugby Football Club, originally founded by officers of the regiment.
The Great South Aisle was added about 600 years ago. It was a special
part of the church with a special altar dedicated to St Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the south-east corner three seats
are to be found recessed into the wall for the use of the priests and assistants at the Mass and also the remains of the
sink used for washing the chalice and paten. Water drained into the foundations thus preventing 'witches' from collecting
the water for magic purposes. The altar is not there any more but has been replaced by the Archdeacon of Leicester's Court
where cases involving church law were heard. The Royal Arms are those of the first three Georges 1714 to 1801.
The chapel was used by the Guild of Corpus Christi which was founded in 1343. They used to have meetings in the
Guildhall after they had been to church.
The large east window shows Jesus going up into Heaven. All the other windows here are about things that Jesus did
after he rose from the dead and before he ascended. In a corner near to St Dunstan's Chapel there is a memorial to
Vivian Redlich who was a missionary in the Far East. He was executed during the Second World War. |
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On the south side of the building, the old Churchyard is now landscaped for ease of maintenance and access with the
tombstones (many in Swithland slate) arranged near the boundaries. Seats and a fountain make it an attractive and restful place (usually).
The tower with its tall spire dominates the view from near and far. |
The entrance via the south door was very much enhanced when the Vaughan Porch
was built by J L Pearson (architect of Truro Cathedral) as a memorial to the four Vaughans who were parish priests here
during the nineteenth century. It is a particular tribute to David Vaughan who was a champion
of workers' education. Vaughan College above the Roman Forum nearby is named after him. The porch is a two storey building,
the upper part containing the Muniments Room when some of the Cathedral's records are kept.
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