St Laurence's Church, Reading facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Laurence's Church |
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St Laurence's Church with The Blade in the background
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 St Laurence's Church
Location in Reading Central
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| 51°27′23.59″N 0°58′10.01″W / 51.4565528°N 0.9694472°W | |
| Location | Reading |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | stlreading.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1121 |
| Dedication | St Laurence |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Berkshire |
| Diocese | Oxford |
St Laurence's Church is a special Church of England church in Reading, England. It used to be a regular parish church but now works as a mission to help young people learn about faith. The church is located right next to where Reading Abbey used to be. It is a very important building, listed as Grade I, which means it has great historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of St Laurence's Church
St Laurence's was one of the first three parish churches in Reading during the Middle Ages. It was built to serve the people living in the eastern part of the town. Because it was so close to Reading Abbey, the area around the church became a busy market place.
How the Church Changed Over Time
The church building itself dates back to the Norman period. It was rebuilt several times, including in 1196, during the 1400s, and again in 1867. The church is made of flint stones with smooth ashlar blocks at the corners.
The most noticeable part of the church is its tall, three-part tower. This tower was built in 1458 and stands proudly at the end of Reading's old Market Place.
Inside the church, you can find some interesting things:
- A memorial dedicated to John Blagrave, a famous English mathematician from the 1500s.
- A font from 1522 that was used to christen Archbishop Laud.
- A covered walkway called Blagrave's Piazza was added along the south wall in 1619. It had six arches and even a small lockup underneath one of them.
World War II Damage
During World War II, on February 10, 1943, the church was hit by a bomb. This attack sadly killed 41 people. You can still see some of the damage from this bombing today.
St Laurence's Church Today
In the 1970s, fewer people were attending St Laurence's. Because of this, its parish joined with that of St Mary's Church. As attendance continued to drop, a new plan was made for the church at the end of the 1900s.
The inside of the church was changed to fit its new purpose. A modern mezzanine floor was added to one side of the main area, called the nave. Today, St Laurence's is a mission church. Its main goal is to help young people learn about and grow in their faith.
Images for kids
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Richard Valpy by Samuel Dixon, St Laurence's Church, Reading (Roche Abbey stone)
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St Laurence's Church c. 1845 by William Fox Talbot
