New St Lawrence Church, Ayot St Lawrence

St Lawrence Church is an eighteenth-century, neoclassical church in Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire, England. It is also known as New St Lawrence Church to distinguish it from the ruined Old St Lawrence Church.

St Lawrence Church, Ayot St Lawrence
OS grid referenceTL1917116895
LocationHertfordshire
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
WebsiteAyot St Lawrence
History
StatusParish church
Architecture
Functional statusActive, but only one regular service a month
Heritage designationGrade 1 Listed
Designated1967
StyleGrecian Revival[1]
Years built1778,[2] consecrated 1779
Specifications
Capacity120
MaterialsBrick & stucco. There is limited use of stone.
Administration
DeaneryWheathampstead
DioceseSt Albans
ProvinceCanterbury
SynodGeneral Synod of the Church of England
Clergy
Curate(s)Bonnie Evans-Hills (priest-in-charge)

History

The church was commissioned by Sir Lionel Lyde, a merchant who had a country estate at Ayot St Lawrence. According to Historic England, construction was financed with profits from the slave trade.[2]

The architect was Nicholas Revett, the co-author of The Antiquities of Athens and Other Monuments of Greece, a multi-volume publication which appeared from 1762. Revett had visited Greece to study its architectural heritage.[3] One of the sources of inspiration for the church may have been a temple on the island of Delos.

Architecture and conservation

The style of the church has been described as Palladian,[4] although this is something of a misnomer as, in contrast to Revett, Palladio never visited Greece. Palladio was an expert on Roman architecture, and the Palladian style was derived only indirectly from Greek architecture. There is some debate as to how Revett's neoclassicism should be categorised. Greek Revival is arguably not the ideal term, and some scholars prefer "Grecian revival".[1]

The front of the church with its portico and screens of columns is designed to be viewed from Sir Lionel's home, Ayot House, across a parkland setting.

Interior

The interior of the building has a Greek cross plan.[1] Because of the orientation of the building to face Ayot House, liturgical east and west do not coincide with geography. The chancel and altar are at the west end of the church.

Despite the eye-catching facade, the church's interior is relatively small, having a capacity of about 120, which reflects the population of the parish.[5][6]

Conservation

The building has been Grade I listed since the 1960s.

Mausolea

On either side of the church is a mausoleum for Lionel Lyde and his wife Rachel. Lyde is alleged to have said of this arrangement that ‘since the Church united us in life, she can make amends by separating us in death’. The urns are raised on tall plinths and sheltered by aedicules.[7]

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References
  1. "New Saint Lawrence Church". Historic England.
  2. "Church built with profits from the slave trade". historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  3. "Parishes - Ayot St. Lawrence or Great Ayot". British History Online. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  4. "A magical garden". Hertfordshire Life.
  5. "Ayot St Lawrence". achurchnearyou.
  6. "Ayot St Lawrence". Genealogy in Hertfordshire.
  7. "Lyde Mausolea". The Mausolea and Monuments Trust.

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