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 in Long Eaton, England, is a very old and important building. It is a parish church for the local community. The church is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest. The church has been a part of Long Eaton for centuries, with parts of it dating back to the 12th century.
Contents
History of St. Laurence's Church
St. Laurence's Church has a long and interesting past. It was first built around the 12th century, making it over 800 years old!
Major Changes in the 1800s
Between 1868 and 1869, the church had a big makeover. An architect named George Edmund Street led the project. The original church building became the south side, called the south aisle. New parts were added, including a north aisle, a main hall (nave), and the area around the altar (chancel). These new sections were built to match the old style.
Mr. Hunt of Long Eaton was the builder for this project. The old benches were replaced with new, open seating. A new pulpit, where sermons are given, was beautifully carved by Thomas Earp. Two new stained-glass windows were put into the chancel by Ward and Hughes. Another window by Hardman & Co. was added to the south aisle. The whole project cost about £3,000 at the time. The church officially reopened on August 26, 1869.
Later Developments and Status
In 1886, a new church called St James' Church, Long Eaton was opened. It served as a "mission church" on Tamworth Road. This means it was a smaller church set up to help reach more people in the area.
Later, in 1936, the ceiling of the chancel was decorated by an artist named Wystan Widdows.
Originally, St. Laurence's was a "chapel of ease" to All Saints' Church, Sawley. A chapel of ease is a church built for people who live far from the main parish church. In the 19th century, St. Laurence's became its own independent parish. This meant it had its own priest and could serve its community directly. The church is also a Forward in Faith parish, which means it follows a particular tradition within the Church of England.
The Church Organ
The church has a beautiful pipe organ that was first installed in 1896 by Brindley & Foster. Over the years, the organ has been updated and improved. 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.
Past Organists of the Church
Many talented musicians have played the organ at St. Laurence's Church. Here are some of them:
- John Beaumont Maskell (1869-1907)
- Ernest Smeeton (1907-1931), who used to be the organist at St Mark's Church, Nottingham
- H.J. Woodrow (from 1931)
- Arthur Robert Hill (until 1961)
- A. Thomas
- Alan Thomas (1966-1981)
- John Adams (from 1983), who used to be the organist at St George's Church, Nottingham
Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of 8 bells. These bells were installed in 1972 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough. They are used to ring out for services and special events.
Images for kids
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The church from Market Place
