St Lawrence The Martyr

Early C13 W tower

Early C14 Corpus Christi S chancel chapel. c.1400 chancel rebuilt

C15 aisles rebuilt, clerestory altered and tower raised

Low 2 stage tower has C13 lancets to N and S in lower stage

To W a C15 pointed arched entrance with an upper square headed 2 light window

C15 2 stage diagonal buttresses to W, that to S larger

Flanking porch are C15 aisle windows, 2 lights with square heads, diagonal buttress to W. Clerestorey has 3 irregularly spaced C15 2 light square headed windows with traces of lower C13 windows

W gable tilehung over a C14 window blocked when aisle was rebuilt

Roughcast N aisle has 2 C15 2 light square headed windows, a pointed arched entrance, diagonal buttresses

To W return a blocked C12 round headed lancet

N clerestorey has 2 lights as to S. Interior: C12 2 bay arcades to nave, round arches with inner zigzag and outer billet mouldings, scalloped capitals to N with bead ornament on round piers and responds

To S scalloped capital to round W respond, central round pier with foliate capital, probably C13, S pier to E is octagonal with a moulded capital, probably C14

Sharply pointed C13 tower arch with roll moulding, responds with foliate capitals

Nave and aisle SE corner was originally separated from the Corpus Christi Chapel but in the C16 a broad 4 centred skew arch was inserted opening up the junction of nave, aisle, chancel and chapel and linking the nave arcade to chancel arcade

C15 4 bay nave roof has struts on renewed grotesque mask corbels with arched braces to tie beams, brattished wall plates, ceiled above

Chancel also ceiled with angel corbels to braced tie beams

Monuments: S aisle W end to Lord Chief Justice R. Raymond, d.1732, designed by Westby Gill, executed by H. Cheere

Semi-reclining wigged figure, putto offering a coronet to right, seated allegory holding a portrait medallion of Lady Raymond to left, pedestal with epitaph, against a broad pyramid backing with arms

Painted marble aedicule with kneeling effigy: Corinthian capitals, open pediment flanking figures of Time and Death, achievement of arms above, epitaph below

S chapel N wall to Anne Raymond, d.1714, marble aedicule with projecting seated figure, fluted pilasters, segmental headed cornice, epitaph on plinth, below 3 naively carved cradled babies

N aisle E end has C14 font, octagonal with moulded and panelled base, quatrefoils to each face of the bowl with Evangelist symbols and shields

Painted Royal Arms of Charles II, dated 1678, on board over S entrance

C14 wall paintings of SS Lawrence and Thomas flanking S chapel E window

TL0902 : St Lawrence, Abbots Langley - Wall painting

© John Salmon

Fragment of C15 glass