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 a long time ago, in the 1700s. People sometimes call it New St Lawrence Church. This helps tell it apart from the Old St Lawrence Church, which is now a ruin.
Contents
History of the Church
Who Built It?
The church was built for a wealthy merchant named Sir Lionel Lyde. He owned a large country estate in Ayot St Lawrence. Sir Lionel wanted a new church to replace the old one. He had even partly pulled down the old church. This was because it blocked the view from his grand house, Ayot House.
The Architect and His Inspiration
The person who designed the church was Nicholas Revett. He was an architect who had traveled to Greece. He studied ancient Greek buildings there. Revett was also famous for a book called The Antiquities of Athens and Other Monuments of Greece. This book showed many Greek buildings. The design for St Lawrence Church might have been inspired by a temple on the Greek island of Delos.
Church Design and Care
What Does It Look Like?
The church's style is called "Grecian Revival." This means it looks like ancient Greek temples. The front of the church has a grand entrance with columns. This part was designed to be seen from Ayot House, across the park.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a special shape called a Greek cross. This means it has four arms of equal length. The church is positioned to face Ayot House. Because of this, the altar is at the west end, not the usual east end.
Even though the outside looks grand, the inside of the church is quite small. It can hold about 120 people. This size fits the small number of people living in the local area.
Keeping the Church Safe
St Lawrence Church is a very important historical building. It has been a Grade I listed building since the 1960s. This means it is protected and cared for.
Mausoleums
On each side of the church, there is a special building called a mausoleum. These are tombs for Sir Lionel Lyde and his wife, Rachel. It is said that Sir Lionel joked about this arrangement. He supposedly said, "since the Church united us in life, she can make amends by separating us in death."
The urns holding their remains are placed on tall stands. They are protected by small, temple-like structures.
