New St Lawrence Church, Ayot St Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lawrence Church, Ayot St Lawrence |
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| OS grid reference | TL1917116895 |
| Location | Hertfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Ayot St Lawrence |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active, but only one regular service a month |
| Heritage designation | Grade 1 Listed |
| Designated | 1967 |
| Style | Grecian Revival |
| Years built | 1778, consecrated 1779 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 120 |
| Materials | Brick & stucco. There is limited use of stone. |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Wheathampstead |
| Diocese | St Albans |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Synod | General Synod of the Church of England |
St Lawrence Church is a beautiful church in Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire, England. It was built in the 1700s and has a special style called neoclassical. This means it looks like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. People sometimes call it New St Lawrence Church. This helps tell it apart from the old, ruined church nearby.
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History of the Church
This church was built for Sir Lionel Lyde. He was a rich merchant who owned a large estate in Ayot St Lawrence. Money for building the church came from trade that involved enslaved people. Sir Lionel wanted a new church to replace the 'Old Church'. He had partly pulled down the old one because it blocked the view from his mansion, Ayot House.
The church's designer was Nicholas Revett. He was an architect who had studied ancient buildings in Greece. He even wrote books about them. One idea for the church might have come from a temple on the Greek island of Delos.
Church Design and Care
The church's style is often called "Palladian". However, it's more accurately described as "Grecian revival". This means it looks like ancient Greek buildings. The front of the church has a grand entrance with columns. It was designed to be seen clearly from Ayot House, across a wide park.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has a unique shape. It's called a Greek cross plan. This means all four arms of the cross are the same length. Because of how the church faces Ayot House, the altar is at the west end. Usually, altars are at the east end of churches. The church is quite small inside. It can hold about 120 people. This size fits the small number of people living in the local area.
Looking After the Building
St Lawrence Church is a very important historical building. It has been a Grade I listed building since the 1960s. This means it has special protection to make sure it is kept in good condition.
Mausoleums Nearby
On each side of the church, there is a special tomb called a mausoleum. These are for Sir Lionel Lyde and his wife Rachel. A mausoleum is a building where people are buried. Sir Lionel is said to have joked about this setup. He supposedly said that since the church brought them together in life, it could separate them in death. Their urns (containers for ashes) are on tall stands. They are protected by small, temple-like structures.
