It was made for secular use, which makes its survival very rare, but was early in its life given to St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, Wiltshire, England, who used it as a chalice.

The cup dates from the mid-15th century and has been described as "one of the most significant pieces of secular English medieval silver".

However, the Lacock Cup was donated to the church soon after creation and so it has survived in its original condition.

[1] The cup's function changed after the English Reformation, as new religious practices meant that a larger communion cup was required to hold sufficient wine for the whole congregation during a time when strict laws prohibited the use of religious images.

[3] The LPCC then applied for a faculty (licence) to sell the cup with the British Museum interested in changing the loan into a purchase agreement.