St Laurence's Church, Slough
Encyclopedia
Saint Laurence's Church is one of three churches in the modern parish
of Upton-cum-Chalvey
, and is the oldest building in the borough of Slough
, in Berkshire
, England
.
In the 12th century the wooden parish church of Upton was replaced with a flint building. The tower and outside walls of the Norman
building form part of the present church. Several walls bear testament to pudding stone
construction. Two other Norman features survive: the ancient baptismal font
, and a piscina
. During the reformation, many of the ancient decorations were mutilated. A 13th century Italian
allegorical image of the Trinity
– God Father, Son and Holy Spirit – survived and was reassembled during the restoration of the church.
building was saved from demolition by a local farmer who secured the outside walls and tower. Saint Laurence’s was restored
during 1850–1851 and rededicated on 2 December 1851.
by local poet Thomas Gray
(1716–1771). St Laurence’s "ivy-mantled tow’r" was a well-known landmark housing a curfew bell
that "tolls the knell of parting day" across the fields of Eton College
.
The church is the final resting place of Slough astronomer
Sir William Herschel
(1738–1822), the discoverer of Uranus
, and also of his wife and his grandson Alexander Herschel. They are all interred in a family vault at the base of the tower, and commemorative plaques may be seen on the wall nearby. In 2001, a generous bequest allowed St Laurence's to install an impressive set of stained-glass
windows to commemorate Herschel and his discovery.
The west window of the church is a memorial to John Sullivan
(1788–1855), who is buried in the churchyard. He was the Collector
of Coimbatore
, India
, between 1815 and 1830, and is best known as the founder of the city of Ooty. Charles Hatchett
(1765–1847), discoverer of niobium
, is also buried here.
The current organist
is the poet and translator Keith Bosley
.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Upton-cum-Chalvey
Upton, Slough
Upton is a suburb of Slough in Berkshire, England. Until the local government reforms of 1974 it was in Buckinghamshire. It was one of the villages that developed into the town.-History:...
, and is the oldest building in the borough of Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In the 12th century the wooden parish church of Upton was replaced with a flint building. The tower and outside walls of the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
building form part of the present church. Several walls bear testament to pudding stone
Puddingstone (rock)
Puddingstone, also known as either Pudding stone or Plum-pudding stone, is a popular name applied to a conglomerate that consists of distinctly rounded pebbles whose colors contrast sharply with the color of the finer-grained, often sandy, matrix or cement surrounding them...
construction. Two other Norman features survive: the ancient baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
, and a piscina
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
. During the reformation, many of the ancient decorations were mutilated. A 13th century Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
allegorical image of the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
– God Father, Son and Holy Spirit – survived and was reassembled during the restoration of the church.
Dereliction and restoration
By the early 19th century the church had fallen into such disrepair that it was decided to build a new church, Saint Mary’s, in the town centre. The NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
building was saved from demolition by a local farmer who secured the outside walls and tower. Saint Laurence’s was restored
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
during 1850–1851 and rededicated on 2 December 1851.
Famous associations with the church
The churchyard may have inspired the 1751 Elegy Written in a Country ChurchyardElegy Written in a Country Churchyard
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard is a poem by Thomas Gray, completed in 1750 and first published in 1751. The poem’s origins are unknown, but it was partly inspired by Gray’s thoughts following the death of the poet Richard West in 1742. Originally titled Stanza's Wrote in a Country...
by local poet Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray was a poet, letter-writer, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge University.-Early life and education:...
(1716–1771). St Laurence’s "ivy-mantled tow’r" was a well-known landmark housing a curfew bell
Curfew bell
The curfew bell was a bell rung in the evening in Medieval England as the signal for everyone to go to bed.A bell was rung usually around eight o'clock in the evening which meant for them to cover their fires - deaden or cover up, not necessarily put out altogether...
that "tolls the knell of parting day" across the fields of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
The church is the final resting place of Slough astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
Sir William Herschel
William Herschel
Sir Frederick William Herschel, KH, FRS, German: Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel was a German-born British astronomer, technical expert, and composer. Born in Hanover, Wilhelm first followed his father into the Military Band of Hanover, but emigrated to Britain at age 19...
(1738–1822), the discoverer of Uranus
Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It has the third-largest planetary radius and fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar System. It is named after the ancient Greek deity of the sky Uranus , the father of Cronus and grandfather of Zeus...
, and also of his wife and his grandson Alexander Herschel. They are all interred in a family vault at the base of the tower, and commemorative plaques may be seen on the wall nearby. In 2001, a generous bequest allowed St Laurence's to install an impressive set of stained-glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows to commemorate Herschel and his discovery.
The west window of the church is a memorial to John Sullivan
John Sullivan (British governor)
John Sullivan was the Collector of Coimbatore, India, who is best known as the founder of the town of Ooty.Born in London, he joined the British East India Company as a writer at the age of 15....
(1788–1855), who is buried in the churchyard. He was the Collector
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
of Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, between 1815 and 1830, and is best known as the founder of the city of Ooty. Charles Hatchett
Charles Hatchett
Charles Hatchett FRS was an English chemist who discovered the element niobium.- Biography:Hatchett was born, raised, and lived in London...
(1765–1847), discoverer of niobium
Niobium
Niobium or columbium , is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. It's a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, which is often found in the pyrochlore mineral, the main commercial source for niobium, and columbite...
, is also buried here.
The current organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
is the poet and translator Keith Bosley
Keith Bosley
Keith Bosley is a British poet and language expert.Bosley was born in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, grew up in Maidenhead, Berkshire...
.