Nominal: 646.5 Hz Weight: 1615 lbs Diameter: 46.5" Bell 1 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1911
Dove Bell ID: 5779 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
St Laurence-in-Thanet: St Laurence
Diocese of Canterbury
Church, 606183
http://www.stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.ukOverview
Grid reference: TR 370 653
St Laurence Church is currently Listed Grade I. The building consists of a nave, north aisle, south aisle, central tower, north transept, south transept, chancel, north chapel, south chapel, south porch and south-eastern porch. The building dates from 1062 and includes work of the late 12th and 15th centuries. The building was restored in the 19th and early 20th centuries and all of the fenestration dates from this period.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 680 m²
Exterior Description
The principle entrance to the building is the south porch which leads to a point midway along the south aisle.
Interior
Interior Description
The south aisle is three bays in length and is furnished with pews along the north side of the first two bays. The south side of these bays is clear of fixed seating providing an area of flexible space. The easternmost bay of the aisle has been cleared to provide a baptistery area.
In 2005 the font from the mid 20th century was replaced by an older font from a church in Romney Marsh.
The nave and north aisle are also three bays in extent and are both extensively pewed. A small area of flexible space has been cleared at the westernmost end of the north aisle for use as a children’s corner.
An altar has been provided in the central crossing under the tower giving this area a strong liturgical focus. To the north and south of the crossing timber choir stalls are located at right angles to the main access extending slightly into the transepts. Otherwise both transepts are areas of flexible space. The transepts are separated from the aisles by open stone arches linking them architecturally with the west end of the building.
The chancel is furnished with clergy and choir stalls of the late 19th century which fill the westernmost bay. The subsequent bay is completely clear of fixed furnishings. The sanctuary is furnished simply with a timber altar, timber rails, timber clergy stall and a stone reredos, the latter of which extends the entire length of the east wall.
The south chapel is separated from the south transept by an open stone arch and from the chancel and sanctuary by an arcade of three arches. The first two of these are open and the easternmost has a simple timber screen. At the east end of the chapel is a free-standing altar, clergy seats and timber rails. The remainder of the chapel is furnished with moveable timber chairs. The north chapel is separated from the north transept by a stone arch which is filled by the west face of the organ. The organ similarly fills the first bay of the north arcade of the chancel. The second bay is filled with a timber screen which was part of a reordering of the second half of the 20th century adapting the north chapel to provide a variety of facilities including a meeting room, vestry and kitchenette/toilet facilities.
The nave has a crown post roof which was restored in the 19th century, the aisles have hipped trussed rafter roofs as do the north and south transepts. The chancel has a 15th century wooden wagon ceiling and the south chapel an original roof of four crown posts.
The floor finish throughout the building consists of timber platforms beneath the pews but otherwise is predominantly red and black tile with some reused ledger stones. The sanctuary floor is of woodblock. There are some areas of carpet in the building, although this is presently limited in extent.
Most of the windows in the building are filled with stained glass of the 19th and 20th centuries with the exception of the west windows in the transepts which are filled with clear quarries. The use of so much stained glass, coupled with the absence of a clerestory in the nave, gives most of the building a low level of natural light, the exception being the west walls of the transepts which allow clear light to flood into that part of the building.
The church contains a number of wall-mounted monuments and memorials and brasses dating back to the 15th century. There are a number of hatchments in the nave and aisles and a Royal Arms Board of George II dated 1729.
Notwithstanding the medieval origins of the building, the restorations of the 19th and early 20th centuries have had a major impact on its character. The south chapel does, however, manage to retain a stronger medieval character.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (component)
20th C font replaced by older font from church in Romney Marsh in 2005
Pew (component)
Nave and north aisles are extensively pewed
Altar
in central crossing under tower
Stall
Choir stalls at north and south of crossing In timber
Reredos
stone
Organ (object)
Fills the first bay of the north arcade of the chancel
Screen
20th Century timber and part of reordering of second half of 20th century
Ceiling
15th Century Wooden wagon ceiling in chancel
Bells
Nominal: 1630.5 Hz Weight: 514 lbs Diameter: 27" Bell 2 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1924
Dove Bell ID: 37564 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1452.5 Hz Weight: 581 lbs Diameter: 28.19" Bell 3 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1924
Dove Bell ID: 37565 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1293.5 Hz Weight: 575 lbs Diameter: 29.13" Bell 4 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1891
Dove Bell ID: 37566 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1221 Hz Weight: 595 lbs Diameter: 30.5" Bell 5 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1911
Dove Bell ID: 37567 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1089.5 Hz Weight: 657 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 6 of 10
Founded by Thomas Mears & Son 1808
Dove Bell ID: 37568 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 965 Hz Weight: 737 lbs Diameter: 34.5" Bell 7 of 10
Founded by Thomas Mears & Son 1808
Dove Bell ID: 37569 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 861 Hz Weight: 934 lbs Diameter: 38" Bell 8 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1891
Dove Bell ID: 37570 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 812.5 Hz Weight: 1155 lbs Diameter: 40.19" Bell 9 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1891
Dove Bell ID: 37571 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Nominal: 724.5 Hz Weight: 1295 lbs Diameter: 42.5" Bell 10 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1911
Dove Bell ID: 37572 Tower ID: 16943 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
The church contains a number of wall-mounted monuments and memorials and brasses dating back to the 15th century.
Royal Arms Board of George II dated 1729.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TR 370 653
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
