All Saints' Church, Lawshall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church, Lawshall |
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All Saints' Church, Lawshall, a Grade 1 Listed Building
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| OS grid reference | TL8643654260 |
| Location | Lawshall, Suffolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Edmund Way Benefice, Lawshall Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 23 March 1961 |
| Architect(s) | William Butterfield (restorations) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint with stone dressings. |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lawshall |
| Archdeaconry | Sudbury |
| Diocese | St Edmundsbury and Ipswich |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Parish Church of All Saints' Lawshall is an Anglican church in the village of Lawshall, Suffolk, England. It is a very important historical building. English Heritage has listed it as a Grade I building. This means it has special historical or architectural importance.
The church is located between Lawshall Hall and All Saints CEVCP Primary School. It is currently joining the Chadbrooke benefice. The main priest for this group of churches is Revd Matthew Lawson.
Contents
History of All Saints' Church
The village of Lawshall was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. This old record says Lawshall had "a church with 30 acres of free land." This means people have likely been worshipping here for a very long time.
Like many old churches, All Saints' has changed a lot over hundreds of years. The biggest changes happened in the 1440s and the 1850s.
Early Beginnings and Medieval Changes
The oldest part of the church dates back to the Early English period (around 1166–1266). This includes the chancel (the area around the altar) and possibly the east windows.
Later, the church was mostly rebuilt in the mid-1400s. This was a time when the cloth industry was making a lot of money. A large amount of rebuilding happened in the 1440s. This was thanks to a gift of £40 from William Hanningfield in 1426. This money was given "to the building of Lawshall Church." £40 was a huge sum back then, worth millions in today's money!
Before the Reformation, All Saints' was a Catholic church. After the Reformation, it became an Anglican church, used for preaching.
Later Centuries and Restorations
Records from the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern period are not very detailed. But in the 1700s, we have more information. Stephen Cambourne, who was the rector (main priest), left his library of books to the church in 1704. About 137 of these books still exist today. You can see them at the Records Office library in Bury St Edmunds.
In 1735, the church bells were put back in the tower. They had been silent for 90 years! The first bells were there in 1553. But they were taken down around 1650 during the English Civil War.
In 1740, the church received the vicarage house as a gift. This house was where assistant priests lived. It was later rebuilt as a school in 1820.
The famous artist Thomas Gainsborough painted the church in 1752. His painting shows John Plampin looking towards Lawshall. This painting is now on display at the National Gallery.
19th Century Renovations
In the 1800s, the church had a major restoration. This work was done by William Butterfield. The rector, Evan Baillie, spent £3,000 of his own money. He rebuilt the chancel and added new windows.
Just nine months after this work, Baillie left his job. He became a teacher at a Roman Catholic chapel nearby. His replacement was Barrington Mills, who had a big impact on the village.
In the 1850s, the church floor was completely redone. It got new wooden boards and beautiful Minton tiles in the sanctuary (the area around the altar). The church's high-quality organ was put in in 1907. It was a memorial to Barrington Mills.
There are not many memorials inside the church. Some were removed during the 1857 restoration. Others were covered by the new Minton tiles. Near the font, there is a plaque for a Dutch airman. His plane crashed nearby during World War II. On the other wall, you can find a list of all the rectors since 1306.
The churchyard also has a war grave. It belongs to a British airman who died in World War II.
The church's records of baptisms, marriages, and burials go all the way back to December 1558.
Architecture of All Saints' Church
This church is made of flint stone with stone decorations. It has a tall west tower, a nave (the main part of the church), aisles (sections on the sides), and a chancel from the 1800s.
The west tower has four levels. It has a castellated parapet (a low wall with gaps like a castle) and strong diagonal buttresses (supports). The nave and aisles also have castellated parapets.
Inside, the church has beautiful roofs in the nave and aisles. They have carved beams. There is also a carved border along the top of the nave walls.
Key Features Inside
- The Porch: The porch at the South door was rebuilt in 1856–57. It uses some old medieval wood in its roof. The carvings on the wood and the stone doorway are very detailed.
- The Tower: The tower holds five bells. The oldest bell dates back to 1755.
- The Font: The font (a basin for baptisms) is beautifully decorated. It dates from the 1440s. Its cover is from 1856.
- The North Doorway: This doorway is from the Decorated period (1300–1380).
- The Nave, Clerestory, and Aisles: The impressive arches of the nave, with aisles on each side and a clerestory (upper windows) above, were built in the 1440s. This was thanks to William Hanningfield's funding.
- The Chancel: An old drawing from the early 1800s shows the chancel was once lower. It had a round-headed Norman doorway. This was part of the original Domesday church. The chancel was pulled down and rebuilt in the mid-1800s. This happened after Evan Baillie's generous gift. During this rebuild, the organ and gallery were moved. The font was moved to its current spot. A new oak pulpit and pews were added. Also, a new window in the Early English style was put at the east end.
All Saints' Church is a Grade I Listed Building. This means it is recognized for its important architecture, history, and location.
St Edmund Way Benefice
All Saints' Church in Lawshall is part of a group of churches called the St Edmund Way Benefice. This group includes six Anglican churches in six different villages. These villages are Bradfield Combust, Great Whelnetham, Hawstead, Lawshall, Nowton, and Stanningfield.
You can find out about church services in the monthly St Edmund Way magazine. The current priest for this group of churches is Jayne Buckles. She lives at Lawshall Rectory.
The Benefice is named after the St Edmund Way Long Distance Path. This path goes through these villages on its way to Bury St Edmunds. Hundreds of years ago, Pilgrims would walk this path to visit the Bury St Edmunds Abbey.
Gallery
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All Saints Church from northwest of churchyard.
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All Saints Church viewed from The Street in winter.
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Gravestones in Lawshall churchyard.
Important Rectors of All Saints' Church
Records show the names of the rectors (main priests) of All Saints' Church since 1306. The first was Jo Gossyl, who served from 1306 to 1310. He was appointed by the Bishop of Norwich.
Evan Baillie (Rector in the 1850s)
In 1856, the rector Evan Baillie received a large inheritance. He spent over £3,000 of his own money to restore the church. This allowed the chancel to be rebuilt. However, just nine months after the church was finished, Baillie resigned. He then became a teacher at a Roman Catholic chapel. We don't know why he changed his religious path. He did publish some sermons, saying they fit with the Church of England's beliefs.
Barrington Mills (Rector from 1858)
Baillie's replacement in 1858 was Barrington Mills. He had a strong positive effect on the village. He would visit every person who missed Sunday church service. This helped more people attend! With help from Mr. and Mrs. Frost, he started daily services. Mrs. Frost was the headmistress of the school, and Mr. Frost was the organist. The school choir sang, and boys who missed choir practice had money taken from their yearly payment. Mills was also very kind. When he went on holiday to the seaside, he would send a cartload of fish back to the village for his parishioners.
Canon Algernon Ogle Wintle (Rector from 1923)
In 1923, Canon Algernon Ogle Wintle became the rector of Lawshall. He was famous for playing street pianos for charity in Bury St Edmunds. People shopping in the town knew him well. After a radio broadcast, many small barrel organs were sent to him for repair.
Canon Wintle then set up a workshop to fix piano organs. This gave jobs to many local people in the village during the 1930s depression. He would buy used organs, fix them up, and sell them under his own name. People remembered him as a bit grumpy but very resourceful. Village ladies would bring their barrel pianos to his house for him to add the latest tunes. He also gave talks on BBC Radio. In 1954, he even met Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother at Sandringham House.
An acknowledgement is made to the work of Elizabeth Clarke, the Local History Recorder for Lawshall, whose efforts in gathering information made this article possible.
