The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore is a beautiful and historic building, which was once part of a small Augustinian priory founded around 1160 by Richard, Bishop of London. 

Its most striking architectural feature is its great wooden bell tower, which was constructed around 1400 and is considered to be one of the finest timber towers in the whole of England. 

Today, the building still plays an active role in village life. In addition to fulfilling its role as a place of worship, as it has done for the last 900 years, it is also the venue for many other community events and social gatherings.    

 

The Priory Church of St Laurence, including the churchyard is a “Grade I” listed building. To keep it in good order now and on into the future, a building as old and as historically important as this needs considerable sums of money spent on it.

 

The cost of the upkeep falls entirely upon the congregation, as neither the church nor the government, local or national (i.e. we the tax payer) makes provision for it.

 

For this reason in 2006 the ‘Friends of St Laurence Church, Blackmore’, a secular, independent charity was formed and registered (Reg. No. 1113888).    Its objectives are:

 

“To help secure for the present and future generations of the congregation and community at large, the benefit of The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore, by assisting in the maintenance, repair, restoration, preservation, beautification and reconstruction of the fabric of the church building and outbuildings and its monuments, fixtures, fittings, furniture, stained glass, ornaments and other chattels, its churchyards and churchyard walls, fences, gates all belonging to the church, and its immediate adjacent surroundings”. 

 

The “Friends of St Laurence Church, Blackmore” holds a series of events throughout the year to raise money to assist in the maintenance of the church. These include concerts, quizzes and art exhibitions.  They aim to provide much pleasure and enjoyment to those who attend or help with the organisation, as well as the satisfaction of contributing to the upkeep of this beautiful building. 

 

Subscribing as a member the ‘Friends’ allows anyone, regardless of faith or belief, to help preserve this historic building. To date we have been asked, by the Parochial Church Council, to pay for a number of projects totaling £20,000.   These include various repairs and replacements to the roof walls and fences £9,000, re-decoration etc. of interior walls and kitchen £6,500. In addition, we refurbished and remounted a 17th century stained glass panel “The Martyrdom of St Laurence” for £4,500, to mark the 900th anniversary of the church in Blackmore.   Furthermore, we have, so far, notionally put aside £50,000 towards the recently estimated cost of £200,000 for re-cladding and re-shingling the bell tower and lychgate.

 

If you would like to assist the  ‘Friends’ in their work by becoming a member, please complete the enclosed membership form and return it to the membership secretary. To give you more information about St Laurence Church you will receive a complimentary copy of the guidebook.