Church of St Laurence, Upminster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Laurence, Upminster |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholicism |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Havering |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of West Ham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chelmsford |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
The church of St Laurence, Upminster, is a special Church of England church located in Upminster, England. It is considered a very important building, known as a Grade I listed building. This means it has great historical or architectural value and is protected.
The name "Upminster" comes from this church! It used to be called a "minster," which is an old word for a church. "Upminster" likely means 'upper church' or 'church on higher ground'. The name "Upmynster" was first written down in 1062. Later, in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, it was called "Upmunstra."
Contents
A Look at St Laurence Church's Past
This church has a long and interesting history, with connections to important people and discoveries.
Famous Burials at St Laurence
A powerful woman named Alice Perrers, who was close to King Edward III, was buried here in 1400. She lived and died in a nearby manor called Gaynes. There is no special marker for her grave.
Another notable person buried here was Rev William Derham. He was a vicar of the church and a scientist. He made an important discovery about the speed of sound using the church's tower! He also wished for no memorial to mark his grave.
What the Church Looks Like
St Laurence Church is a great example of building styles from the 1200s.
The Church's Design and Features
The church's tower was built in the 13th century. It has strong stone walls and buttresses (supports) at the bottom. The top of the tower has a pointed roof called a spire, which is covered with lead and wooden tiles. This style is common in the Essex area.
The church has been updated over the years. A large part of it was rebuilt between 1862 and 1863 by W. Gibbs Bartleet. More changes happened in 1928. During this time, the original chancel (the area near the altar) became part of the main seating area, called the nave. A new choir area and sanctuary were built by Sir Charles Nicholson. He also added the south chapel and the Lady Chapel on the north side.
Inside the church, you can see a pulpit (where sermons are given) made by the Violet Pinwill from Devon. The baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) is from the 15th century and came from Upminster Hill Chapel. There are also memorials for important local families, like the Branfills of Upminster Hall and the Esdailes of Gaynes.
The churchyard also holds war graves for six service members who died during World War II.
