St Laurence's Church, Church Stretton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Laurence's Church, Church Stretton |
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St Laurence's Church from the southwest
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 St Laurence's Church, Church Stretton
Location in Shropshire
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| 52°32′18″N 2°48′32″W / 52.5382°N 2.8088°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO 452,936 |
| Location | Church Street, Church Stretton, Shropshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | St Laurence, Church Stretton |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 4 July 1952 |
| Architect(s) | S. Pountney Smith (aisles and restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, tiled roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Church Stretton |
| Deanery | Condover |
| Archdeaconry | Ludlow |
| Diocese | Hereford |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Laurence's Church is a historic church located on Church Street in Church Stretton, Shropshire, England. It is an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. This church is very important because it's listed as a Grade I building, which is the highest level of protection for historic places in England.
Contents
History of the Church Building
The oldest part of St Laurence's Church, the main body or nave, was built way back in the 12th century. This means it's over 800 years old! The parts that stick out on the sides, called transepts, were added in the 13th century. The chancel (the area around the altar) and the top part of the tower were built in the 15th century.
Changes Over the Years
Over time, the church has been updated and restored. A small room called the south vestry was added in 1831. Later, in 1867–68, a big restoration project took place. During this time, new aisles (side sections) were added to the transepts. The church also had more updates in 1882 and 1932.
In 2010, the inside of the church was made more modern. The old pews (long benches) were replaced with movable chairs. New heating, lighting, and sound systems were also installed to make the church more comfortable and useful today.
Exploring the Church's Design
Outside the Church
St Laurence's Church is built from stone with tiled roofs. It has a cruciform plan, which means it's shaped like a cross when you look at it from above. It has a main body (nave), a chancel, and transepts on the north and south sides. There's also a tower right where the nave and transepts meet, called the crossing.
The nave shows Norman architecture, which is an older, sturdy style. The rest of the church mostly features Early English Gothic style, except for the very top of the tower, which is Perpendicular Gothic. These are different styles of medieval building.
Tower Details
The tower has three levels. You can see interesting stone carvings called gargoyles on the corners and in the middle. There are tall, narrow windows called lancet windows on the lower and middle levels. On the east side of the middle level, there's a clock. The top level has openings for bells with flat tops and wooden slats. At the very top, there's a wall with a pattern like castle battlements, and fancy decorations called finials on the corners.
The tower has strong supports called buttresses on its corners. One buttress on the southeast corner even has a carving of St Laurence, who the church is named after.
Doors and Windows
The nave has two original Norman doorways, one on the north side and one on the south. Above the north doorway, there's a re-set stone carving known as a Sheela na gig. Other doorways in the church are in the Early English style. The large west window and windows in the transepts have decorative stone patterns called tracery in the Decorated Gothic style. The tracery in the east window is in the Perpendicular style.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you'll notice that all the roofs are from the medieval period, which means they are very old. In the chancel, there's a window with a small basin called a piscina built into its sill. This was used for washing sacred vessels. The reredos (a screen behind the altar) was made around 1820, using older wooden panels from the 17th century.
Special Features
The font, where baptisms take place, is octagonal (eight-sided) and in the Perpendicular style. The pulpit, where sermons are given, was built in 1880. It's made of stone and different types of marble.
Look up at the ceiling of the tower, and you'll see a sculpture from around 1970. It shows St Laurence with his symbol, a gridiron (a metal grill). Some of the windows in the chancel have old medieval stained glass, and others have round glass pieces from Flanders. The glass in the east window was made by Betton and Evans of Shrewsbury. There's also an early window in the nave by Burlison and Grylls.
Memorials and Music
You'll find several memorial windows inside. One in the south transept remembers Lord Leighton of Stretton, a famous artist who took his title from the town. Another window and plaque remember the writer Hesba Stretton, showing a character from her book Jessica's First Prayer. In the north transept, there are framed lists of local people who died in both World Wars. There's also a plaque for 2nd Lieutenant Guy Barnett, who died in World War I.
The church has a large pipe organ with two manuals (keyboards). It was built in 1883 and restored in 1987. The church also has a ring of bells with eight bells. Four of these bells were made in 1711, and the other four were made in 1890.
Outside the Church Grounds
The churchyard around St Laurence's Church also has many interesting features. There are 13 structures in the churchyard that are also listed at Grade II, meaning they are historically important. These include walls, stiles (steps over a wall), and gates to the north and west of the church.
The Sundial
To the south of the church, there's a sundial. This used to be a medieval churchyard cross. Its base is actually an old mill wheel! On top, there are two brass dials, one on top of the other, but the part that casts the shadow (the gnomon) is missing. The other listed items in the churchyard are all memorials, which are located to the east and south of the church.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Shropshire
- Listed buildings in Church Stretton
