St Laurence Reading

 A few weeks ago a lady left a comment on the blog I wrote about St Laurence Reading saying she had found the place locked as well. I took this as a challenge and emailed the church office to see if it was possible to get access fro some photos. Turned out to be very possible and a date and time was arrange so  now I can finally give closure to this church. I hope Miss Mary like the photos. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in how the church is used now though they do still have weekly services here I cannot help think that the place has been desecrated a little but the reader can make their own minds up. It is still a beautiful church. You can visit but you need to make arrangements like I did.

 

St Lawrence from the Town Hall Square, The entrance was locked when I got there but on phoning the office I was let in.

This is the entrance inside the door, there are loads of memorials you can look at, behind me as well

 

Walking through the second doorway you come to the aisle, it looks huge here because I used a wide angle lens on my DSLM

 

Going towards the chancel arch where a rood screen and rood cover the front

 

 The top of the screen and rood

 

the Rood which looked really impressive

 

Into the chancel again using a wide angle lens

The altar and east window

The altar

The triple east windows

Collage showing the stained glass. For a church of it's size I was surprised to find this was about it for stained glass

Back of the rood screen

And the nave from the rood screen. Looks a little empty for a church

Looking to the back of the church, the glass area is the church office

There are a few very nice older memorials, this kneeling lady looks very puritan in her dress. She died in 1636 when Charles I was on the throne and we know what happened to him a few years later

This plaque has been very damaged not doubt by the reformation or Roundheads

This memorial is the most impressive 

 

The plaque is beautifully preserved

the carvings outstanding

This memorial is more modern

 

This is the plaque under it cropped from the original photo I took

This one is hidden in the north aisle, the inscriptions are faded but you can see his wife was busy with 10 kids

Think this is another on the north wall

The Royal Berkshire Regiment have this memorial over the south door

 

Nearby the Roll of Honour for the First World War

I came across this on in the north aisle

The pulpit

Which gives this view of the nave

One of the banks of choir stalls

Which is covered in these memorial plaques

You can see other church brasses and memorials around the church

There are a few tombs in the floor you can also see and not doubt more in the nave under the flooring that has been laid. The bottom centre that of the lady in the memorial

There is an organ almost hidden by shelving

It's quiet a magnificent instrument

and would have been played behind the second bank of choir stalls. I'm told it does not play now but I have no doubt I know someone who could make it do so

this is the chancel ceiling

and the nave

there is a north aisle where this serving area is

and if you go upstairs on the mezzanine above you can see some of the old corbels

this are seems to be another relaxation area with a meeting room at the end. Shame it was locked as I could see a good view of the organ from there

The chapel in the north aisle

In one of the windows are these old photos

 

Underneath this memorial plaque

 

 There is a beautiful eagle lectern near the organ

Near the entrance is the stunning font which is painted, could not tell you the age

I shall leave you with the beautiful font.

Till next time have a wonderful weekend

 

 Remember Them