St Lawrence Church, Little Wenlock, Telford, Shropshire
Posted by: 
GCMTWood
N 52° 39.488 W 002° 31.414
30U E 532225 N 5834348
St Lawrence Church is located in the village of Little Wenlock, in Telford, Shropshire.
Waymark Code: WMNAPK
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/02/2015
Views: 3
With its surrounding churchyard, St Lawrence forms an attractive centrepiece to the village. As the oldest surviving building, it is of considerable historical, architectural and environmental as well as spiritual importance to the community.
A church built to serve the settlement of Little Wenlock was probably in existence by the late 12th Century. The current building is Grade II* listed, with the earliest surviving part – the Lady Chapel – dating from the 12th Century and the list of incumbents going back to 1260.
The original nave (now the north aisle) is medieval, with an arch-braced roof typical of the 15th Century. A west tower was added to the stone nave and chancel in 1667 and the building was further extended with a brick nave (1822) and chancel (1875) to the south side to form the present double-aisled church.
Within the tower hangs a peal of five bells, dating from 1704. Two were recast in 1892 by J. Taylor & Co of Loughborough and all are in full working order.
As part of the 1892 refurbishment, a clock manufactured at J. Smith & Sons’ Midland Steam Clock Works in Derby was installed in the tower. With twin gilded faces to the north and south, it strikes the hour on the tenor bell.
St Lawrence contains one of the earliest known cast iron grave slabs in Shropshire. Dated 1611, it is set into the floor of the original chancel.
The church is also notable for 19th Century stained glass windows in the east end of the chancel and north aisle commemorating members of the Forester and Edmonds families respectively.
Of historical interest within the church are a 17th century communion table, an oak chest from 1733 and a 1742 silver communion set (comprising flagon, chalice and two patens), all indicating active use from well before the heyday of nearby Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale.
In 1849 Abraham Darby IV of Coalbrookdale joined the Church of England, having been raised as a Quaker. He was baptized at St Lawrence Church.
Formerly circular, the graveyard was extended northwards in 1851. It contains several iron slabs of the 18th and 19th centuries and is bounded on the west side by a substantial wall and line of mature yew trees.
Grade II* Listed
Date Listed: 8 April 1983
English Heritage Building ID: 362282
Active Church: Yes
School on property: No
Service Times: Varies
Website: [Web Link]
Date Built: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the Church. Please try to keep your GPSr out of the photo.