Church Of St Lawrence

The Church of St Lawrence is a town church located just off the High Street in Winchester, with its exterior largely hidden by adjacent buildings. The structure dates back to the 13th century, with rebuilding recorded in 1475-7. It served as a school in the 17th century and was restored to church use in 1672, undergoing a thorough refurbishment following a fire in 1978. The church is constructed of knapped flint with freestone quoins, partly rendered, and covered by tiled roofs.

The plan comprises a single nave and chancel, and a west tower/porch. Externally, the visible portions consist of the west face of the tower, and the upper stage of the south face, which forms an important feature in the townscape near Winchester Cathedral. This upper section is rendered with exposed ashlar quoins. The porch tower incorporates a moulded west doorway and a two-light, Decorated-style traceried window above. The upper windows of the tower are two-light and set in chamfered, square-headed frames. The tower is topped with battlements, and a southwest stair turret rises above the roof as an octagonal turret with a battleated parapet.

Inside, the interior is a single, nearly square space dominated by a large stained-glass east window and a distinctive vernacular roof, dating from around 1672. This roof features four tie beam trusses, each with a king post and diagonal and horizontal struts, and two tiers of purlins. An organ gallery is located within the tower. A 13th-century doorway is visible in the north wall, along with the remains of a small slit window on the west wall. Three unusual, high-set blind arches are present in the east wall, all ogee-headed and one cusped. The south wall contains a chamfered aumbrey with pyramid stops. The church also houses a font constructed of 1860 Caen stone, having a carved octagonal stone bowl with carved fleurons and an octagonal stem. Panelled dado runs along the walls, largely from the 20th century, with a 17th-century style dado on the north and south walls at the east end, commemorating those who died in World War I. Choir stalls with poppyhead ends are also present, along with several wall monuments, some dating to the 18th century.

The Church of St Lawrence is significant as a small town church with medieval origins, notable for its unusual vernacular roof dating to around 1672. The wall monuments contribute to its importance, illustrating the church’s continued relevance to the community, and the 17th-century style dado serves as a memorial to those lost in World War I.