Search churches in Leicester
Find churches across Leicester and Leicestershire.
Historic churches in Leicester
- Leicester Cathedral (St Martin's): a medieval parish church raised to cathedral status in 1927, known worldwide since 2015 as the burial place of King Richard III, whose tomb of Swaledale fossil stone draws visitors from every continent. Daily worship continues around the visitors.
- St Nicholas: the oldest place of worship in the city, standing beside the Roman Jewry Wall, with Saxon fabric and reused Roman brick in its walls. A congregation still meets where Christians have gathered for over a thousand years.
- St Mary de Castro: the ancient castle church where Geoffrey Chaucer is said to have married, with Norman work of real quality.
- Holy Cross Priory: the Dominican priory church on New Walk, a centre of Catholic life in the city.
A city of many languages, many churches
Leicester is one of the most diverse cities in Europe, and its Christian life reflects that. Alongside the Anglican parishes of the Diocese of Leicester and long-established Catholic, Baptist and Methodist congregations, the city hosts thriving churches founded by Caribbean, African, Indian, Polish and Eastern European Christians. Gujarati-speaking congregations, African Pentecostal fellowships in Highfields and Belgrave, and Polish Masses at the Catholic parishes are all part of an ordinary Leicester Sunday. Large evangelical churches such as Holy Trinity near the university draw students and young professionals, and the city's interfaith work, born of decades of practice, is among the most mature in Britain. Church-run social projects, from food banks to English classes, knit it together.
Browse Leicester churches in the directory
See every church we list in Leicester, or explore Loughborough, Hinckley and the county's market towns on our Leicestershire county page.
Practical notes for visitors
- Sunday services generally start between 10am and 11am; several of the larger churches add afternoon or evening gatherings.
- The cathedral is free to enter and open daily; the King Richard III Visitor Centre opposite tells the story of the king's discovery and reburial.
- St Nicholas, the cathedral and St Mary de Castro are all within a short walk in the old town, an easy historic church trail.
- Highfields and Belgrave churches are a short bus ride from the centre; check individual websites for service languages and times.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Richard III buried in Leicester?
His remains were found under a city car park in 2012, near the Greyfriars church where he was hastily buried after the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. After scientific identification, he was reinterred with honour in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.
What is Leicester's oldest church?
St Nicholas, beside the Jewry Wall, incorporates Saxon work and Roman materials, and the site has seen Christian worship since at least the 9th century, possibly earlier.