Lancaster Priory

Offering a unique and interesting interior, there is much to see inside the building. Lancaster Priory is a church where the voices of all are regularly lifted in prayer and praise focused on God in worship. Our annual Priory Festival in September, most of which is free to attend, celebrates our Patron Saint, the Blessed Virgin Mary. These events take place amongst the ongoing worshipping life of the Priory, showcased in Festival Sundays and Evensongs. The Priory music department’s gift is one of drawing together a wide range of singers of all ages and abilities. New events for Heritage Open Days this year include an exhibition by King Street Art Studio entitled Architecture: Windows on the Past Doors to the Future. Architecture is more than just a functional necessity—it is a testament to artistic and technical mastery, a symbol of cultural identity, and a carrier of historical memory. (Council of Europe: Heritage Days 2025). This exhibition aims to interpret architecture in the widest sense, to include a sense of the structures and spaces around us and our communities that make up our lives; to consider the architecture of buildings alongside that of nature, down to the level of the qualities of a flower and its unique and its unique architectural structure; some of these natural structures and spaces have indeed inspired what human architecture has created. These structures and spaces reference our past and are also the portals to our futures.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 13 September:

1030-1115: Coffee Concert with The Red Rose Ensemble | 1130-1215 & 1215-1300 Church Tours

Wednesday 17 September:

1845-2100: Vocal Workshop with Tim Uffindell

Saturday 20 September:

1030-1115: Coffee Concert with A Cappell Singers | 1130-1215 & 1215-1300 Church Tours

Location & directions

Priory Vicarage, Priory Close, Lancaster Priory & Parish Church, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1YZ

Directions:

On foot, Lancaster Priory is situated on Castle Hill just behind Lancaster Castle. You can take follow the hill in front of the Castle and take the ancient steps up to the church or take a left turn at the John O' Gaunt Gate and follow the Shire Hall path behind the Castle.

Contact on day:

Parish Office

Telephone number:

+44152465338

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

We work hard to ensure that our building and events taking place within are as accessible as possible in this historic setting.  Please contact us to discuss your needs prior to your visit if appropriate.  There are 4 wheelchair spaces with free Personal Assistant seats for each service or concert performance.  Paths and driveways on the hill are uneven in places and we request that all visitors take care on approaching our wonderful heritage building.

Additional information

If you are visiting with an group we can provide tours on request. We have a number of passionate historians who can talk to you about our church building and the development of worship and Christian community on our site from Saxon times to the present day. We are also part of the Facing the Past Slavery Trail, which you can find out more about https://facingthepast.humap.site/ Also available outside HODs (Note as this is not part of the HODs offering, tickets available) - September 13th @ 2000: Lancaster Jazz Festival - September 19th @ 1930: The Telling - Hildegard von Bingen event

Max no of people per tour:

30

Est. tour duration:

0 hour(s) 45 minute(s)

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