St Laurence's Church, Long Eaton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Laurence’s Church, Long Eaton |
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The church from Market Place
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| 52°53′55.58″N 01°16′14.32″W / 52.8987722°N 1.2706444°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | High Church |
| Website | st-laurence.net |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Long Eaton |
| Diocese | Diocese of Derby |
St. Laurence's Church is a historic church located in Long Eaton, England. It is a parish church for the local community. This church is very old, with parts of it dating back to the 12th century. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
The Church's Story
Early Beginnings
The first parts of St. Laurence's Church were built around the 12th century. This means it has stood for over 800 years! For a long time, it was a smaller church connected to All Saints' Church, Sawley. Later, in the 1800s, it became its own independent parish.
Big Changes in the 1800s
Between 1868 and 1869, the church had a major makeover. An architect named George Edmund Street led the project. The older parts of the church were kept and became the south aisle. An aisle is like a walkway along the side of the church.
New sections were added, including a north aisle, a nave, and a chancel. The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. The chancel is the area near the altar. These new parts were built to match the style of the old building.
During this time, the old wooden pews were replaced with new, open seating. A beautiful new pulpit, which is a raised stand for sermons, was carved by Thomas Earp. Also, new stained-glass windows were put in. Two windows in the chancel were made by Ward and Hughes, and another in the south aisle was by Hardman & Co.. The church officially reopened on August 26, 1869.
Later Additions and Decorations
In 1886, another church called St James' Church, Long Eaton was opened nearby. It started as a "mission church" connected to St. Laurence's. In 1936, the ceiling of the chancel was decorated by an artist named Wystan Widdows.
The Church Organ
St. Laurence's Church has a large pipe organ. It was first installed in 1896 by a company called Brindley & Foster. Over the years, the organ has been updated. Henry Willis made changes in 1951, and the Johnson Organ Company worked on it in 1986. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
People Who Played the Organ
Many talented people have played the organ at St. Laurence's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- John Beaumont Maskell (1869-1907)
- Ernest Smeeton (1907-1931)
- H.J. Woodrow (from 1931)
- Arthur Robert Hill (until 1961)
- A. Thomas
- Alan Thomas (1966-1981)
- John Adams (from 1983)
The Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of eight bells. These bells were installed in 1972 by John Taylor & Co from Loughborough. They are used to ring out melodies for services and special occasions.
More to Explore
- Grade II* listed buildings in Erewash
- Listed buildings in Long Eaton
