The Lacock Cup, which is now in the British Museum after being bought from St Cyriac’s Church for £1.3m, goes on public display at Salisbury Museum this spring.

Alongside it are three other medieval chalices from Wiltshire churches: the silver parcel-gilt, late 15th century chalice from St Mary’s Church, Codford; a 16th century silver gilt chalice from Wylye Church; and a 16th century silver gilt chalice and paten, or plate, belonging to St Margaret’s Church in Corsley.

The Lacock Cup is now on permanent display at the British Museum and Salisbury Museum is the first of five venues to exhibit it on a tour across England. It is hoped the exhibition will also visit Devizes Museum late in the year or in 2016.

The exhibition, Secular to Sacred: The Story of the Lacock Cup, from January 31 to May 4, also features objects from Salisbury Museum’s own collection and comparison pieces loaned to the museum for the show by private collectors and Salisbury Cathedral. These include the chalices from other churches. In the post-medieval period, Salisbury was an assay city and a centre for the manufacture of silverware.

The Lacock Cup was made some time in the 15th century, as a feasting cup for a high-ranking nobleman. It was probably made in London and of international significance.

Late Middle Age drinking cups are rare because most were melted down as fashions changed. This one was given to St Cyriac’s in Lacock immediately after the Reformation and used as a sacred communion cup there for more than 400 years.

When most church silver was confiscated, it managed to stay out of the hands of reformers.

In 2013 the cup was acquired by The British Museum and The Wiltshire Museum with support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and private donations.

Parishioners in Corsley and Chapmanslade are delighted that Salisbury Museum has chosen to put St Margaret’s 16th century chalice on public display alongside the Lacock Cup, as it is usually locked away in the cathedral’s vaults.

The Corsley chalice, with its accompanying paten, or plate, is only used on rare and special occasions.

Not a great deal is known about the chalice and paten. In 1553 the Crown Commissioners took 20oz of silver for the king from Corsley, a common practice when the monarch was short of money, and left only seven-and-a-half ounces behind. Of this, only a silver-gilt paten made about 1510 remains.

The chalice which they left was remodelled in the 1570s. As far as is known, the chalice and plate have never been valued; the parish has no intention of selling them.

Phil Jefferson, a Corsley and Chapmanslade church member, said villagers were delighted that the musuem had been chosen to display the chalice alongside its Lacock cousin.

He said: “We appreciate that our chalice is not as well known or indeed as valuable as the Lacock Cup, but we are very proud of this part of our heritage and we thank Salisbury Museum for making it available to be seen by the public throught the spring.”

The Rev Pauline Reid said: “I feel very privileged to have used the cup for the purpose it was intended on the Sunday after the induction service.

"It was an extraordinary feeling to administer Communion with something that held such meaning for the parish and connected us to past communicants in such a profound way. A real joy.”

Naomi Speakman, curator of Late Medieval Europe at the British Museum, said: “This uniquely English object (the Lacock Cup) is closely tied to Wiltshire, and to start the cup’s spotlight tour in its home county is exciting.

"Visitors will be able to compare the vessel to medieval and post-medieval objects, allowing wider stories about the Lacock Cup to be discovered.”