Bradford - St Lawrence's Church

St Lawrence's is believed to have been founded by St Aldhelm (died 709) and is referred to in a document of 705. In 1001 the church became the responsibility of Shaftesbury Abbey, being deconsecrated soon afterwards and put to a succession of different uses (charnel house, cottage, and outbuildings) until its original status became quite forgotten. It was rediscovered in 1856 when, so the story goes, the local vicar, gazing out from a window over the huddle of roofs, recognized the cross shape of the old church. The buildings adjoining it were subsequently removed, revealing St Lawrence's much as seen today. The tiny church makes a powerful impression with the simplicity of its architecture and virtual absence of external decoration apart from blind arcades. The tall nave, long and narrow and without aisles, opens into the rectangular chancel by way of a rounded arch. Today the furnishings are plain but traces of paintings have been discovered. The two sculpted angels above the chancel arch date from the eighth century, remnants of a group which would have included a crucified Christ. The original floor is still visible in the chancel while the altar is fashioned from Saxon stone slabs. Three new windows were added in the 19th century to improve the lighting, the original three being in the porch, nave and chancel.