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St Mary & St Lawrence's Church, Stratford Tony facts for kids
| St Mary & St Lawrence's Church | |
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| Location | Stratford Tony, Wiltshire, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Church of St. Mary and St. Lawrence | |
| Designated | 23 March 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1181901 |
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The Church of St Mary & St Lawrence is an old church in the village of Stratford Tony. This village is located in south Wiltshire, England. The church was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century (the 1200s). It sits on the south side of the River Ebble. You can reach it by walking down a lane, crossing the river, and going up a bank.
This church is very important! It is listed as a Grade I listed building in the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a building of special historical interest. The church is also a redundant church, which means it is no longer used for regular church services. Instead, the Churches Conservation Trust has looked after it since 1986. This trust helps to protect important old churches.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The church has some interesting parts and features. The area near the altar, called the chancel, was built in the 14th century (the 1300s). It was built where an even older church used to stand.
The Tower and Walls
The church has a low tower on its west side, also from the 14th century. This tower is made from large blocks of Chilmark stone and a pattern of stones called flint chequers. Its roof is shaped like a pyramid and covered with tiles.
Look closely at the church walls, and you will see many gargoyles. These are stone carvings, often shaped like strange creatures, that help drain rainwater away from the building.
Changes Over Time
In the 18th century (the 1700s), the main part of the church where people sit, called the nave, was rebuilt. It was made with stripes of brick and flint. When the north porch was built, a doorway from the 12th or 13th century was reused. This shows how parts of the church have been updated and reused over hundreds of years.
The Church Today
The Church of St Mary & St Lawrence stopped being used for regular services on October 1, 1984. It was then officially given to the Churches Conservation Trust on March 26, 1986. Even though it is not used every week, a special service is still held there once a year.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you will find a round stone font. This font, used for baptisms, is very old, from the 12th or 13th century. There is also a beautiful piscina made of Purbeck stone. A piscina is a basin used for washing sacred vessels, and this one is from the mid-13th century.
Seating and Memorials
The church has special seating, including box pews with decorative tops. These seats are from the 17th century (the 1600s). Some changes were made to them in 1882.
You can also see memorials inside. These include a marble plaque for George Taunton and a wall tablet for Elizabeth Hill, who passed away in 1715. The colorful stained glass in the east window was put in by the studio of Charles Eamer Kempe in 1884.
A Special Visit
In 2012, Loyd Grossman, who leads the Churches Conservation Trust, visited the church. He gave awards to local school children. These children had done research to learn about the church's long history.
The Churchyard
Outside the church, in the churchyard, there is a very large Yew tree. This tree is huge, with a trunk that is more than 11 feet (about 3.3 meters) around!
You can also find graves and tombs in the churchyard. One of these is a chest tomb for Anthony Bradbury, who died in 1845.
Images for kids
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The Church of St Mary and St Lawrence