St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth |
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St Lawrence's, October 2006
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 St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth
Location in Kent
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| 51°15′32″N 0°22′40″E / 51.25875°N 0.37790°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 660 537 |
| Location | Mereworth, Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founder(s) | John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland |
| Consecrated | 26 August 1746 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Style | Neo-Palladian |
| Groundbreaking | 1744 |
| Completed | 1746 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | One |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Mereworth |
| Deanery | West Malling |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Lawrence's Church is a beautiful old church in Mereworth, Kent, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was built in the 1740s by John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland. He decided to build a new church because the old one, which was from the 1100s, was in the way of his plans to make Mereworth Castle bigger.
The church is built in a special style called Neo-Palladian. Experts say it's "the most amazing 18th-century church in the county." We don't know for sure who designed it. But some famous architects of that time, like Henry Flitcroft and James Gibbs, might have helped.
Inside the church, you can still see many things from the old medieval church. These include colorful stained glass windows and old memorials made of brass and stone. The church has been repaired many times over the years. This includes fixing damage from World War II bombs. It also had a big restoration in 2009. Because it's so important, St Lawrence's Church is a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very special historical building.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Old Church
There was a church named after St Lawrence in Mereworth a very long time ago. It was there during the time of King Henry II (1154–1189). The right to choose the priest for this church belonged to a person named Roger de Mereworth.
The old church was built by the de Clare family. Later, it was given to the Knights Hospitaller. There was a disagreement between Roger de Mereworth and Leeds Priory about who could choose the priest. Gilbert Glanvill, the Bishop of Rochester, helped them settle it. Roger de Mereworth won, but the church had to pay money to the priory every year.
Later, the church was given to Tonbridge Priory. It stayed with them until 1525, when many monasteries were closed. After that, it belonged to Cardinal Wolsey. But then it became the King's property in 1529.
The right to choose the priest then went to Sir George Nevill. It stayed in his family for many years. In 1634, the church owned a lot of land, about 352 acres (142 hectares) in Mereworth.
Building the New Church
In the 1720s, Mereworth Castle was rebuilt in a grand style. In the 1740s, more buildings were added around the castle. This meant the old church had to be moved. So, in 1744, John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland, got permission to take down the "old and very inconvenient" church.
Fane built the new church in the middle of the village. It was about 5/8 of a mile (1 km) northwest of the old one. Building started in 1744 and finished two years later. The church was officially opened on August 26, 1746. Old coffins and memorials were carefully moved from the old church to the new one.
In 1752, a famous writer named Horace Walpole visited the church. He joked that the spire was so tall the church seemed to "curtsy" beneath it! Another writer, Thomas Benge Burr, said in 1766 that the church "richly deserves" a close look from travelers.
The church was repaired in 1770. The tall spire was rebuilt in 1870. In 1875, a new round window was added to the east wall. Bells were fixed in 1885. A clock was put in the tower in 1894 to remember a former priest, Eliot Stapleton.
Modern Times
Major repairs were done to the spire in 1946–1947. This was after it was damaged during World War II. The bells were fixed again in 1957. On August 25, 1959, the church became a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical site.
The clock was repaired in 1972. A new clock face was added, and it was changed to run on electricity. In 2005, a check showed the church needed big repairs. English Heritage gave a lot of money to help. The work finished in 2009 and even won an award!
Today, St Lawrence's Church is still an active place of worship. You can find details about services on the church's website.
About the Church's Design
St Lawrence's is built in the Palladian style. This style was popular in the 1700s and was inspired by old Roman and Greek buildings. We don't know who the architect was for sure. But some experts think it might have been Henry Flitcroft or James Gibbs. The spire, for example, looks a lot like the one on St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
Outside the Church
The church is made of blocks of Kentish ragstone. It also uses smooth sandstone for parts like the porch columns and corners. It looks like a simple rectangular "temple church" from the 1700s. The roof is covered in slate.
At the west end of the church, a tall tower rises above the roof. It has a steeple with decorative urns. This tower looks very much like the one at St Giles in the Fields church. Below the roof, there's a round open porch with columns. It looks like a design from other famous churches in London. The tower has six bells that were made in 1746.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has a Neoclassical style. You enter through the porch into a round room at the base of the tower. Rooms on the sides of this entrance hall hold memorials from the old church.
On the north side is the Yotes Court Chapel. Here you can find a brass memorial of William Shosmyth and his wife. He was a leader of a guild (a type of club for workers) in 1461. This chapel is now used as a vestry (a room where priests prepare).
On the south side is the Despencer or Lady Chapel. It has brass memorials to Sir John de Mereworth and Thomas Nevill. There are also memorials to other important people, including the heart of George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny. You can also see the tomb of Sir Thomas Fane and his wife Mary. Their sons are shown kneeling at the bottom of the tomb.
Beyond the entrance, you enter a wide nave (the main part of the church). It has seven sections. The ceiling is curved and painted to look like it has carved squares. This is called trompe-l'œil. The nave and side aisles are separated by columns that look like marble. The way the inside is designed makes it look very grand and orderly.
At the east end, there's a large, round-topped window. Below it is the round window added in 1875.
The church has a marble font from when it was built. There's also a lot of stained glass. The oldest glass is from 1562. It shows family symbols and can be seen in the east window. Other old glass is from the 1600s and 1700s. There's also a window from 1889 showing the Raising of Lazarus.
The organ was put in the church in 1882. It was paid for by Lord Falmouth.
The crypt (an underground room) holds several coffins of the Fane family.
Important Memorials and Burials
Many important people are remembered or buried at St Lawrence's Church.
- Memorials
- Sir Thomas Fane: He was a high-ranking official in Kent in 1572. His large monument from 1639 shows him and his wife lying down, with their sons kneeling below.
- James Master (died 1689): His memorial is a marble plaque.
- Brasses
- Sir John de Mereworth: He was a high-ranking official in Kent in 1340. He fought in the siege of Calais in 1346. His brass shows him as a knight.
- William Shosmyth (died 1479): He was a leader in a guild in 1461. His brass is 18 inches (46 cm) long.
- Burials
- Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth
- George Byng, 7th Viscount Torrington
- John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland: He was the person who built this church.
- Mary Fane, Countess of Westmorland: John Fane's wife.
- William Hutcheon Hall: A Royal Navy admiral.
- Charles Davis Lucas: The very first person to win the Victoria Cross, a very brave award.
- Thomas Nevill (around 1480–1542): He was the Speaker of the House of Commons. His memorial has special designs and angels.
- Francesco Sleter (died 1775): An Italian artist.
- Sir Robert Southwell: A high-ranking legal official.
The churchyard also has Commonwealth war graves for two British soldiers from World War I.
The Church Today
The church serves the village of Mereworth and nearby areas. It works together with St Dunstan's Church in West Peckham.
Because it is a Grade I listed building, English Heritage considers St Lawrence's Church to be very important. It is one of the most special historical buildings in the area.
The church is still used for worship every Sunday. You can find more details about service times on the church website.
See also
