St Laurence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon

St Laurence, also St Laurence 's church and occasionally St Lawrence is a small church in the town of Bradford-on -Avon in the English county of Wiltshire. The building is one of the very few in which the Anglo-Saxon structure from the building time is preserved virtually unchanged. Your patronage has of St.. Lawrence of Rome.

Architectural History

The chronicle Gesta regum Anglorum of William of Malmesbury can be seen that in Bradford- on-Avon about the year 700 a ecclesiola was founded. As abbot of St. is. Aldhelm of Sherborne called. Although the identity of this mention of St Laurence has not been established, but has been recognized that the construction of the lower part is about 700, an increase was made around 1000. The building fell into oblivion, he served, inter alia, as the gardener, arms and leg school house. Around the construction of houses and stables were added. Only in the 19th century he was recognized again as Anglo-Saxon and renovated, with the additions made ​​in later centuries were removed. The building is now listed as a Grade I building.

Specifications

The small church today consists of three components - originally there were four. The two main components are the single-aisled nave and the choir on the east side. For this, the remaining portico is on the north side. The south is not complete, it is the missing component. The original height of the Südportikus can still be recognized in the footsteps of the former roofing. All components are connected only by unusually close portals, they almost isolated from each other.

The exterior of the facade is broken by a blind arch frieze with pilasters and indicated wall strips that have certain similarities with other Anglo -Saxon churches in England from the time, but can not compete with the magnificent buildings from that period, such as Aachen or in Oviedo in its simplicity.

Inside the church there is initially the unusual proportions. Nave and choir are running very high, its height is greater than the length of the components. Also inside was almost completely dispensed with jewelry. Only far above the chancel arch, two angels are added. They may have been remnants of a large crucifixion scene. A similar from the period can be found in Romsey Abbey.

Although very simple, but the church is one of the most important of its kind in England, and as, albeit meager, gem.

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