File:2024-09-13 - St Margaret, Lowestoft, Suffolk 18.jpg

English: The lectern in St Margaret's Church is one of very few remaining pre-Reformation lecterns. It was made around 1500, and was buried for protection during the puritan regime. This is not the only time that the lectern has required protection. In 1941, the Diocesan Committee for the Care of Churches recommended that the lectern be moved to a place of safety. It was moved to the crypt, where it remained until Whitsunday 1945, when the lesson was read from it once more.

This movement turned out to be wise, as on the night of 18th March, 1943, the surrounding area was bombed, one incendiary bomb falling on the south aisle. Had it not been for the swift action of the fire watch that night, much damage may have been caused to St Margaret's.

Saint Margaret's Church is the ancient parish church of Lowestoft. It is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch and is notable for its large illuminated blue spire which can be seen across the town. The church is located on a hilltop on the north-western edge of the town centre and was used as a navigation landmark. The church is medieval and a Grade I listed building with an early 14th-century tower. It was founded by the Priory of St. Bartholomew in London which was granted the manor of Lowestoft in 1230 by Henry I. The church contains a wooden panel listing the parish priests since 1308. The church is built of flint and was substantially enlarged during the 15th century, with the aisles and nave dating from this period. It was refurbished during the Victorian period and the needle spire rebuilt in 1954, replacing the previous wooden spire which dated from 1483. It contains the only known glasswork produced by Regency artist Robert Allen, installed in 1819. The east window glass dates from 1891 and the church also contains glasswork from St Peter's church, a daughter church of St Margaret's which was demolished in 1975. Within the church the octagonal font dates from the 15th century. The brass lectern is a rare pre-Reformation lectern dating from around 1500. It also contains one of only two remaining banner stave lockers, a feature which is believed to be unique to this area of Suffolk.

There are a number of memorials within the church. The north wall of the church contains a memorial to fishermen who lost their lives at sea between 1896 and 1923. After this date the memorial was moved to The Lowestoft Fisherman's and Sailor's Bethel. A war memorial chapel contains a wooden wall inscribed with the names of 711 Lowestoft men who died in the First World War.