History of St Laurence Church

The Church of St. Laurence

The present church building is of two different dates. The tower was part of the church constructed to the design of Thomas Squirrell in 1773-4, in local, ashlar limestone, the masons being Thomas Eglington and John Mantun. The faculty for the rebuilding of the church stated “the present Parish Church of Lighthorne is a very ancient Building now in a Ruinous and Dilapidated State and Condition”. Only the tower remains from this rebuilding. The nave and chancel were rebuilt to the design of John Gibson, in1875-6, in memory of the younger son of Lord Willoughby de Broke, who had died whilst serving with his regiment in Ireland in 1872. John Gibson had been a pupil of J.A. Hansom, the architect of Birmingham Town Hall and designer of hansom cabs. Gibson used local limestone with contrasting detailing of Horton ironstone, giving a very pleasing effect. The builder was William Wilkins, who lived at Dene Hollow in Lighthorne. A vault exists under the mortuary (lady) chapel, containing the tombs of the Verney family.

The ornately carved oak lectern is in memory of the Rev. Charles Palmer, rector for 37 years from 1834 to 1871. The font is of limestone and marble and was presented by the widow of the Rev. Abel Humphreys Lea, rector from 1871 to 1873. The oak pulpit is in the Perpendicular style and was erected in 1913, to the memory of the Rev. Walter Robert Verney, rector from 1873 to 1908.

 The Windows

 The windows in the church contain attractive stained glass dating from the 15th to the 20th century, some of national importance. For a full description please refer to the brochure “The Windows of St. Laurence’s Church, Lighthorne”, available in the church.

The two nave south wall windows, featuring St. Laurence (on the left) and St. Sebastian, are particularly interesting. The St. Laurence figure is Victorian, as is the surrounding glass of both figures, but the St. Sebastian figure is by Barnard Flower of Southwark, glazier to King Henry VIII. It is from the same cartoon as the St. Sebastian window in the church at Fairford, Gloucestershire, which contains the finest set of medieval windows in England. At the start of the 16th century the Verneys held the manors at both Fairford and Compton Verney. This panel was probably brought here from Compton Verney in 1773, after the 1772 demolition of the old chapel by Capability Brown and incorporated in the 1773-4 Squirrell church. It was inserted into its present surround and matched with the St. Laurence window by W.F. Holt of Warwick, for the 1875-6 rebuild.

Two small stained glass inserts in a Victorian window behind the choir stalls on the right are the oldest in the church. They date from the 15th century. One bears the date 1413 and the letters HV, commemorating the accession of King Henry V.

A window on the north wall of the aisle contains armorial designs. The two lower designs are thought to have been the work of Nicholas Eyffeler of Warwick, who was born in Germany in the 16th century. He provided stained glass for Charlecote and other local large houses and churches. On his death the majority of his fortune was used to endow the Eyffeler Almshouses in Warwick.

The most recent window is above the entrance to the tower. It is a spring floral design by Christopher Lund of Coventry and was installed in 1996 and commemorates a local resident, Vicky Stephenson.

The Bells

 There are now 6 bells in the ring, 2 trebles having been added when the restoration of the bell installation was carried out in 2006. The tenor bell dates from between 1410 and 1420 and its casting may have been related to the accession to the throne of Henry V in 1413. In 1890 the 3 bells were removed and refurbished and a 4th bell added. In 1913 one of the bells was recast to the memory of Walter Robert Verney, rector from 1873 to 1908. Today Lighthorne has an enthusiastic band of bell ringers who practice once a week and ring for two Sundays each month. Visiting bands also ring the bells. For a full description please refer to the brochure “The Bells of St. Laurence, Lighthorne”, available in the church.

The Graveyard

 The base of the old preaching cross is visible south of the nave. This is probably the oldest man-made object in Lighthorne and may date from the 9th, 10th or 11th centuries.

Memorial gravestones in the churchyard date from the 17th to the 21st centuries. Many of the earlier memorials have been laid horizontal and the Lighthorne History Society has uncovered them, recorded their inscriptions and photographed them. Please visit www.lighthornehistory.org.uk.

The lychgate was designed by John Gibson and it was built in 1883, the gift of the Dowager Lady Willoughby de Broke. The gates were replaced in 1996 and commemorate a local resident, Cyril Hackleton.