History
St Laurence Church has stood on a hill called Alspath, just above the present village of Meriden, for nearly a thousand years. The building has many features of historical and architectural interest. May you too experience in the church and its grounds that love and peace of God.
The church commands beautiful and extensive views across the countryside, especially to the west and north west. Such a vantage point must have been an important defensive factor when siting the original village called Alspath in Saxon times.
Pre the Norman conquest, there is evidence that a wooden Saxon church existed on this site. It was built by Lady Godiva, wife of Earl Leofric of Mercia and owner of the village until 1066 AD, and was originally dedicated to the much loved Saxon saint Edmund martyred in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, by the Vikings. However, none of this original Saxon Church remains today.
Following the Norman conquest, and the rebuilding of the church in stone, it was re-named St Laurence, after the second Archbishop of Canterbury 604 AD. In the fields south-west of the church is St. Laurence’s well where tradition says he baptised his converts. The well in later times was believed to have healing properties, especially for sore eyes and sore legs.
The original building consisted of a Chancel and the main body of the church, the Nave. In succeeding centuries, aisles and a tower were added, the roof was raised and styles which became ‘old fashioned’ were replaced by newer ones, themselves now ancient.
Meanwhile the village of Alspath itself began to decline as the ‘Kings Highway’, the main road from London to Chester encouraged the development of the village of Meriden at the foot of the hill.