St Laurence's Church, Upwey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Laurence's Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Upwey, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Laurence's Church is an old and beautiful church in Upwey, Dorset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. Most of the church you see today was built in the late 1400s. Some parts are even older, and some were added in the 1800s and 1900s. This church is so special that it's protected as a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
History of St Laurence's Church
Early Beginnings
People believe a church has stood in Upwey for a very long time. It might have been there even before the Normans came to England in 1066. The first time we hear about St Laurence's Church was in 1201. The first known priest, John Wydeston, started working there in 1267.
Most of the church we see today was built in the late 1400s. This includes parts of the main hall (nave), the side areas (north aisle), the tall back part (west tower), and the entrance (north porch). Some older pieces from the 1200s or 1300s have also been found.
Changes Over the Years
Over time, the church was changed and added to. In 1685, a balcony (west gallery) was put in. More balconies were added in the early 1800s and in 1834. A new side area (south aisle) was built in 1838. In 1841, a row of windows high up (clerestorey) was added to let in more light.
Big Renovations in the 1800s
By the late 1800s, the church needed a lot of repair. In 1889, the church leader, Rev. Frederick Broke Howell, started raising money. A designer named Mr. John Thomas Micklethwaite made the plans. Mr. Samuel Barnes was hired to do the building work.
The church closed on March 16, 1891, for the work. It reopened on August 10, 1891, with a special ceremony. This big repair cost about £890. It included fixing things, putting in new floors, taking out the old balconies, and adding new wooden seats (pews).
New Additions in the 1900s
After the repairs, people started raising money again. They wanted a new area for the altar (chancel), a room for the priest (vestry), and a space for the organ. A new organ was put in the church in 1895.
By 1901, about £700 had been raised for these new parts. In 1906, the new church leader, Rev. Canon Gildea, asked experts to look at the old chancel. They found it was old and not safe. So, new plans were made for a new chancel, vestry, and organ room.
Work began in September 1906. Local villagers helped with the building. Windows and good stonework from the old chancel were used again. The new parts cost about £1,000. They were officially opened on June 24, 1907. In 1912, the church's four bells were remade, and two new ones were added.
Recent Events and Repairs
In July 1955, Upwey, including St Laurence's, had a big flood. Over seven inches of rain fell in one day. You can still see marks from the flood on the lower parts of the church pews.
The churchyard was made bigger in 1964. It was officially blessed on October 6, 1965. More recently, from 2008 to 2011, the church's windows were repaired. This work cost around £60,000.
Architecture of St Laurence's Church
St Laurence's Church is mostly built from local Upwey stone and Portland stone. The roofs are made of different materials. The main hall (nave) has a slate roof. The entrance (porch) has stone slate. The altar area (chancel) has tiles. The side areas (aisles) and priest's room (vestry) have lead roofs.
The church has a main hall (nave) with four sections. It has side areas (north and south aisles), an altar area (chancel), a tall back part (west tower), an entrance (north porch), and a priest's room (vestry). The clock on the tower is from the early 1800s and was fixed in 1912.
The church has six bells. Two bells are from 1617, one from 1767, another from the 1700s, and two new ones from 1912. Inside, you can see the wooden seats (pews) from 1891. There's also a seven-sided preaching stand (pulpit) from the 1600s. The stone base for the pulpit was added in 1891. The church also has an eight-sided stone font (for baptisms) from the 1400s. The east window in the chancel has pieces of glass from the 1600s.
Churchyard Monuments
The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. In 1997, several old monuments in the churchyard were given special protection as Grade II listed items. This means they are important historical structures.
Some of these protected monuments include:
- An old chest tomb from the 1600s.
- A headstone from the 1600s.
- A chest tomb with a brass plaque for William Gould, from 1681.
- Chest tombs for Robert Freke (1699) and Mary Freke (1712).
- Headstones for William Every (1720), Joseph Roper (1770), Tregunel Roper (1817), and John Roper (1858).
