St Laurence's Church, Ramsgate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Laurence's Church, Ramsgate |
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St Laurence's Church, Ramsgate
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| Location | Ramsgate, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1062 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 4 February 1988 |
| Style | Norman, Early English, and Victorian |
| Completed | 11th century, 12th and 13th century chancel and aisles, rebuilt in the 15th century with a tower |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint, Caen stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. Laurence in the Isle of Thanet |
| Deanery | Thanet |
| Archdeaconry | Canterbury |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Laurence's Church, also known as St Laurence-in-Thanet, is a historic Church of England church located in Ramsgate, Thanet, Kent. It is a very old and important building in the area.
Contents
History of St Laurence's Church
St Laurence's Church was first built in 1062, making it the oldest church in Ramsgate. It is considered a grade I listed building, which means it is a very important historical site. For many years, it was an abbey church, a church connected to a monastery.
In 1275, it became the main parish church for the entire area. This meant it took over many duties from a nearby church in Minster. The church building was made larger in the 12th and 13th centuries. During this time, the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) and side aisles were added.
A big event happened in 1439 when lightning struck the church. This caused damage, and the church had to be rebuilt. During this rebuilding, the church tower was made taller, reaching its current height.
As Ramsgate grew into a bigger town, it needed its own churches. In 1826, St Laurence became a separate parish just for the villagers of St Laurence. Around the same time, a new church called St George's was built to serve the people living in the town of Ramsgate.
Exploring the Churchyard
St Laurence's Church has a very large churchyard, covering about three and a half acres. It is a peaceful place with over 1,400 known graves. The oldest grave found here dates back to 1656. The churchyard also contains a special building called a mausoleum. This mausoleum belongs to the family of Augusta d'Este, who was a cousin of Queen Victoria. She later became Baroness Truro.
Notable People Buried Here
Many interesting people are buried in the churchyard of St Laurence's. Some of them include:
- Admiral William Fox (who lived from about 1733 to 1810)
- Sir William Garrow (1760–1840), a famous lawyer
- John Collis Browne (1819–1884), a doctor and inventor
The d'Este Mausoleum
The d'Este Mausoleum is a significant burial place within the churchyard. Several members of the d'Este family and their relatives are buried there. These include:
- John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1732–1809)
- Lady Charlotte Murray, Countess of Dunmore (1740-1818)
- Lady Augusta Murray (1761-1830)
- Sir Augustus Frederick d'Este (1794-1848)
- Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro (1782–1855)
- Augusta Emma d'Este, Baroness Truro (1801–1866)
