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 |
St Laurence, Upminster, is a historic church in Upminster, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is very special because it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in the country. The name "Upminster" actually comes from this church! It means "upper church," probably because it was built on higher ground. People first wrote about "Upmynster" in 1062. It also appeared as "Upmunstra" in the famous Domesday Book of 1086.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Church History
This church has seen many years pass by. Important people from history are connected to it.
Famous People Connected to St Laurence
- Alice Perrers: She was a close friend of King Edward III. Alice was buried at St Laurence's in 1400. There is no special marker for her grave. She lived and passed away at the Gaynes manor in Upminster.
- Reverend William Derham: He was a vicar at St Laurence's. Reverend Derham used the church tower to make the first accurate measurement of the speed of sound. He was also buried here, but like Alice Perrers, he asked for no memorial.
What the Church Looks Like
St Laurence's Church shows how buildings were made in the 13th century. It has some very old parts and some newer ones.
The Church's Design
The church tower is from the 13th century. It has strong stone walls and supports called buttresses at its base. The roof of the tower is a pointed spire covered in lead and shingles. This style is common for churches in Essex.
Changes Over the Years
The church has been rebuilt and updated several times:
- In 1862–1863, W. Gibbs Bartleet did a lot of rebuilding work.
- More changes happened in 1928. The original chancel (the part of the church near the altar) became part of the main 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
- The pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) was made by the Violet Pinwill from Devon.
- The baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) is very old, from the 15th century. It came from another local chapel.
- You can also see monuments inside the church. These are special memorials for families like the Branfills of Upminster Hall and the Esdailes of Gaynes.
The Churchyard
The churchyard is the area around the church. It holds the graves of six service members from World War II. These graves are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
