St Laurence, Upwey

[puddleshark]

St Laurence, Upwey. Mostly late 15th century, restored and enlarged in the 19th century, and the chancel completely rebuilt in the early 20th century. An impressive village church, in a lovely setting.




Looking east. Unfortunately the 19th and 20th century restorations wiped away many of the traces of the ancient church.


19th century stained glass, colourful but uninspired. If you click on the image, and click again to zoom right in, you can see that small squares of the old 17th century glass have been re-used to the frame the side of the new windows. Sad to see these tiny tantalising glimpses of what must have been far more historically interesting windows.


Traces of old wall paintings: Tudor roses.



Looking west.


In the bell-tower, looking up.


More traces of old wall paintings. Texts thought possibly to date from the English Civil War.

Beside the text, a memorial to Anna Floyer, inscription very much of its period:

To the Memory
of
ANNA FLOYER
Daughter of WARREN LISLE Esq.,
And Wife of AUGUSTUS FLOYER Esq.,
This Monument is erected.

In Testimony not of the Affection, but Sorrow of a Husband whose
only Consolation now left is viewing her adoring image in the
infant Pledges of her Love.
Her Gentleness, her Friendship, the Tenderness of her conjugal and maternal Affection blest with the purest of domestick Comforts that Season of his Life which the Turbulency of the Passions too frequently agitates. To enjoy such a Blessing thro' Age is above the Condition of Humanity.

She died 14th of January 1774
Aged 32

***

I think Augustus Floyer may have been related (by marriage) to the Rev. Nicholls, one of Thomas Gray's regular correspondents. There is a letter from Gray addressed to Nicholls at Augustus Floyer's London residence:



To The Revd Mr Nicholls at Augustus Floyer's Esq in Thrift-Street, Soho London

28 Jan: 1768. P: Coll:
Dear Sr

I and mine are safe, & well, but the chambers opposite to me (Mr. Lyon's) wch were getting ready for Mason, are destroy'd. Mr. Brown was in more immediate danger than I; but he too is well, & has lost nothing. we owe it to Methodism, that any part (at least of that wing) was preserved: for two Saints, who had been till very late at their nocturnal devotions, & were just in bed, gave the first alarm to the college & the town. we had very speedy & excellent assistance of engines & men, and are quit for the fright, except the damage abovemention'd. I assure you it is not amusing to be waked between 2 & 3 in the morning & to hear, Don't be frighted, Sr! but the college is all of a fire.

I have not yet return'd the letters you sent me by the fly, not thinking it necessary to do so immediately; but very soon you shall have them. Mason came two days after the fire, & will stay some time.
Adieu! I am sincerely
Yours
T G:

I do not see, what you can do: everything depends on their first meeting at Mamhead, & that is now over. I am afraid every thing will go wrong. it is sure, your last letter could do no hurt.

Source: Thomas Gray archive.

Thrift Street (now Frith Street): in 1768, the north end was taken up by Monmouth House. The most famous inhabitant of Thrift Street was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who lived there aged eight from September 1764 during his grand tour of Europe with his father and his sister.