St Dionysius Church

At the heart of Market Harborough stands St Dionysius (locally known as St Di’s), a living layered work of art shaped by history, craftsmanship, and community. This remarkable town-centre church, watched over by its resident peregrine falcons, welcomes visitors most days until late afternoon, inviting quiet exploration and discovery.

Its foundations reach back to the 13th century, while much of what you see today was shaped in the 14th and 15th centuries—an era when churches were not only places of worship, but also galleries of devotion, rich with symbolism and skilled artistry. Over the centuries, St Di’s has evolved and continues to adapt to the needs of its community while preserving the spirit of its past.

Step inside and you enter a world where art and craft were once the language of storytelling. Medieval churches were designed as immersive environments: every surface, colour, and material carried meaning. Nowhere is this more evident than in the stained glass. Before widespread literacy, these luminous panels acted as visual narratives, teaching faith through light. The deep blues, radiant reds, and glowing golds were not chosen at random: red spoke of divine love, white of wisdom, and light itself symbolised the presence of the sacred.

Among the windows, the Memorial Window offers a more contemporary story. Created during the church’s 1980s restoration by stained glass artist Derek Hunt of Limelight Studios, it captures the events and shared efforts that brought the community together to raise funds for the window. It is a reminder that storytelling through glass did not end in the medieval period; it simply found new imagery.

Art here also reveals itself in quieter, unexpected forms. As you enter, turn back and look above the doorway to discover the Coventry Screens—delicate, intricate panels made from dried plant materials, seed heads, fibres, and preserved fruits. Originally created by the Flower Club of Market Harborough for Coventry Cathedral, they reflect a long artistic tradition of working with natural materials, echoing medieval practices where beauty was often crafted from what the land provided.

Throughout the church, there is more evidence of craftsmanship; fine embroidery, expressive woodcarving, and centuries-old stonework (and don’t forget to look up!) Outside, gargoyles and corbels—both decorative and functional—peer down from the walls, part sculpture, part storytelling device, part rainwater engineering - how many faces can you spot?

Even time itself becomes an artwork here. On the south side of the tower, a 17th-century vertical sundial using ornate wrought iron work, bears the intriguing inscription: “Improve the Time.” In an age before clocks governed daily life, such timepieces marked the rhythm of daylight and prayer. The phrase invites reflection—perhaps urging us not simply to measure time, but to use it wisely.

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Add your wall to the trail

Do you own a wall or door that would benefit from a little glow-up that we can add to our town trail? Get in touch: claire@thepaintpottle.co.uk