Church of St Lawrence, Warkworth facts for kids
The Church of St Lawrence is a very old and important church. You can find it in the village of Warkworth in Northumberland, England. It's a special building, known as a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and beauty. The church is named after St Lawrence of Rome.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The church you see today was built in the 1100s. But before that, a wooden Anglo-Saxon church stood here. This first church was mentioned in AD 737. At that time, King Ceolwulf of Northumbria gave the village of Wercewode (now Warkworth) and its church to the monks of Lindisfarne.
The wooden church was likely destroyed in 875 during the Danish raids. A Viking leader named Halfdan Ragnarsson attacked the area. Later, in the 900s, the church was rebuilt using stone. In 2008, builders found parts of this older stone church under the current one.
In 1120, King Henry I gave St Lawrence's Church to his chaplain, Richard de Aurea Valle. After Richard died, the church became part of the new Diocese of Carlisle. It stayed part of this diocese until 1882, when Newcastle got its own separate diocese.
The Church We See Today
Building the current stone church started in 1132. It was designed to be a holy place and a safe spot for villagers. Its walls were very thick, and the windows were narrow and high. This design helped keep enemies out during dangerous times.
On July 13, 1174, a sad event happened. During the Battle of Alnwick, a Scottish army led by Donnchad II, Earl of Fife attacked Warkworth. They set the town on fire. About 300 people who had hidden in the church were killed.
Around 1200, a tower was added to the west end of the church. The belfry (where the bells hang) and the spire (the pointy top) were added later, in the 1300s. In the 1400s, the south aisle and the entrance porch were built. Above the porch is a small room called a parvise. It was used as a schoolroom until 1736.
In October 1715, Warkworth was the first town in England to declare The Old Pretender as King. This was during the Jacobite rising. His chaplain even held prayers in the church on October 9. In 1761, John Wesley, a famous preacher, visited the church and gave a sermon.
In 1860, the church had a big makeover. A new roof was put on, and some windows were removed. The plaster was taken off the inside walls. The old box pews (like private boxes) were replaced with bench pews.
Recent Changes
After World War II, more changes happened. In 1947, some pews were removed from the south aisle. The floor was also relaid with Caithness stone. The churchyard got a new drainage system. Some trees were removed, and headstones were moved to the edges. The church's electricity, heating, and sound systems were updated. In 1983, the church organ was repaired.
Fixing the North Wall
People knew the north wall of the church had been moving since the 1200s. It was built on shallow foundations near the River Coquet. In 2006, studies showed the wall was 19 inches out of line. This made it dangerous, and the church was put on the English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register.
In March 2009, work began to fix the wall. Two new supports, called buttresses, were built. These buttresses rest on very deep piles that go 22 meters down to the bedrock. The repairs cost £300,000. Money came from English Heritage and from fundraising by the church council. After the work was finished, the church was taken off the "at risk" list.
Church Features
Outside the Church
The church is made of squared stone. The main part of the church, called the nave and chancel, has a roof made of Lakeland slate. The rest of the church has a lead roof. The church clock was added in 1875. It has a slate face with gold numbers.
Near an old door into the chancel, you can see three medieval stone coffins. These were found under the church floor.
Near the main gate is a special tomb. It belongs to Edward Dodsworth, a huntsman for King James. He died in 1630. Dodsworth used to hunt deer in Scotland for the King.
Inside the Church
The nave of the church is 27.6 meters (90 feet) long. It is the longest Norman nave in Northumberland. It has a special roof from the 1800s. The south aisle was built by the Percy family in the 1400s. Its east window has the only remaining pieces of medieval glass in the church.
The pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) has five panels. Each panel shows a work of art by Alfred Southwick. These include pictures of St Lawrence helping the poor and St Hilda of Whitby. To the right of the main door is the Knight's Tomb. It shows a knight from the 1300s with his legs crossed. His shield has the symbols of the de Abulyn family from Durham.
Images for kids
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The huntsman's tomb in the churchyard.
