St Lawrence Church, Lechlade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lawrence Church |
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| Location | Lechlade, Gloucestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://www.stlawrencelechlade.org.uk/ |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 26 November 1958 |
| Completed | 1476 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lechlade |
| Benefice | South Cotswold Team Ministry |
| Deanery | Cirencester |
| Archdeaconry | Cheltenham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Gloucester |
St Lawrence Church is a very old and important church in a town called Lechlade, in England. It's part of the Church of England and is named after Saint Lawrence. This church is so special that it's listed as a Grade I building, which means it's one of the most important historic buildings in the country. Many people admire its design.
The church you see today was finished in 1476. It was built on the same spot where an even older church once stood. After a fire in the early 1500s, parts of the roof and structure were rebuilt. Over the years, the church has been updated many times. For example, a special balcony for singers was added in 1740. A famous poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, even wrote a poem after visiting the churchyard in 1815.
One of the most interesting features of St Lawrence Church is its unique eight-sided spire on top of the tower. Inside, you can find a beautiful brass chandelier, a very old stone basin from the 1200s called a piscina, and carvings. One carving shows St Agatha, a saint who died for her beliefs.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
A church has been in Lechlade for a very long time, at least since 1210. Back then, it was known as a place of Sanctuary, meaning people could find safety there.
The church building we see today was completed in 1476. It replaced an older church. Local people helped pay for it, and some building materials came from a nearby priory (a type of monastery) that had closed down. The church was first dedicated to St Mary. But in 1510, its name was changed to St Lawrence by Katherine of Aragon, who became the owner of the Lechlade area.
After a fire in 1510, some parts of the church were rebuilt. This included the main roof, the upper windows (called a clerestory), the north entrance, and the tower with its spire. Later, in 1740, a gallery was added inside for singers. More updates were made in the 1880s.
Literature and Famous Visitors
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In September 1815, the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley visited Lechlade. He was with his future wife, Mary Shelley, and other friends. Shelley was so inspired by the churchyard that he wrote a poem called A Summer-Evening Churchyard, Lechlade, Gloucestershire. This poem was published the next year. Today, the path through the churchyard is called “Shelley's Walk” to remember his visit.
Church Community
The main priest, called the Vicar, is Dr Andrew Cinnamond. The church works closely with the nearby St Lawrence Church of England Primary School.
St Lawrence Church is part of a larger group of churches called the South Cotswold Team Ministry. This group is within the Diocese of Gloucester, which is a larger area of the Church of England.
Church Design and Features
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The church is built from a type of stone called freestone, which came from a quarry near Burford. It has a main hall (the nave) with upper windows, and two side sections (called aisles). There's also a north entrance, and special chapels on the north and south sides of the chancel (the area near the altar). A small room called a vestry is on the north side.
The tall tower at the west end of the church has three levels. It is supported by strong diagonal buttresses. At the top, there are corner decorations called pinnacles and a wall with a jagged top (an embattled parapet). The most striking part is the eight-sided spire that rises above the tower.
The tower holds several bells. The oldest bell dates back to 1590! The bells were rehung in 1911, when a new treble bell was added, and again in 1966.
Inside the Church: Fittings and Fixtures
Some of the items inside the church are even older than the current building. For example, the piscina (a stone basin for washing sacred vessels) and the font (where baptisms take place) are from the 1200s. The carving of St Agatha in the north aisle also comes from the earlier church. St Agatha is shown with a sword, representing how she died for her beliefs.
A beautiful brass chandelier hangs from the ceiling. It was made in 1730 and has a message saying it was a gift from "Mr Richard Ainge." The pulpit (where sermons are given) was added in 1882. However, the base it stands on is much older and was found in the vicarage garden.
You can also find some old brass plaques and marble memorials inside. Below the stained glass window at the east end, there is a wooden screen called a reredos. It has a carving of the Agnus Dei, which means "Lamb of God."
The Churchyard
The churchyard around St Lawrence Church is no longer used for new burials. Modern burials now take place in the town cemetery. However, the churchyard is still home to many old gravestones, some dating back hundreds of years. You can see many large, rectangular tombs called chest tombs, which mark the graves of people like William Hobbs, Ann Lambert, and many others from long ago.
