The Church Bells
The church is known to have had six bells by 1629, when five of them were recast by Roger Purdue. In about 1775 the tower contained eight bells, and there were said to have once been two others hanging under the smaller spire. Two of the eight had been cast by Abraham Rudhall in 1713 and 1721 respectively, and two by Thomas Rudhall in 1771.
In 1814, whilst the ringers were ringing a peal, the tenor bell fell from its supports and cracked one of the other bells. Fortunately, no one was injured. The two of the bells were recast the following year by Thomas Mears of Whitechapel, and two more were added to the peal to make the current total of ten.
The bells were overhauled and re-framed in cast iron by Loughborough Bellfoundry in 1893. A further renovation of the bells was supported by Stroud Preservation Trust in 1989. Records show that 173 full peals of the bells have been rung since 1772, the latest being in August 2015.
Bell Ringers
On 15th October 1887 the 95th birthday of Giles Mansfield was celebrated. Giles was born in Painswick on 15th October 1792, and married Olive Roberts in 1813, and they later moved to Stroud. Olive died in 1843, and on 29th March 1856 the 62-year old Giles married 29-year old Mary Ann Godwin at St Laurence church. For 80 years, Mansfield was a well-known and respected bell ringer with both the Painswick and St Laurence societies. Mansfield died on 20th April 1889, at the age of 96, and was buried in Stroud Cemetery. His gravestone reads:
IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF GILES MANSFIELD WHO FOR 80 YEARS WAS A MUCH RESPECTED AND VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE STROUD AND PAINSWICK SOCIETIES OF RINGERS
THIS STONE WAS RECETD TO PERPETUATE HIS MEMORY BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE GLOUCESTER & BRISTOL DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS
HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 20TH 1889 AGED 96 YEARS
BELOVED BY ALL
In 2007, Eric Hitchins (a bellringer in Norwich, and brother of the then St Laurence Tower Captain, Laurence Hitchins) was on holiday in Australia and visited the bell tower of Holy Trinity Church in Hobart, Tasmania (now a Greek Orthodox church) – where he was surprised to find a photograph on the tower wall of St Laurence bell ringers. The photograph is believed to date to about 1935 and shows, from left to right:
B Latham, L Barry, J Pritchard, W Pugh, W Dean, W Mills, G Orchard, C Canham and P Riddiford.
All except W Pugh are known St Laurence bellringers. In spite of strenuous efforts, the identity of Pugh has never been discovered, nor has any explanation as to how this photograph comes to be on a church wall in Hobart, Tasmania.
View Simon the Bellringer's "Yorkshire Surprise Royal" at St Laurence
Windows
The church was endowed with a fine series of Victorian stained glass windows at its rebuild between 1866 and 1868, which were gradually added to in the period up to 1922. Makers include Heaton, Butler & Bayne, Lavers & Barraud, H Hughes, Ward & Hughes, and JCN Bewsey.
With grateful thanks to Franklyn Bovey for the photographs and research notes.
Window 1. Healing, 1864
LOCATION South-west corner
MAKER Heaton, Butler & Bayne
THEME Healing. “He took her by the hand and the maid arose” (left); “He was restored and saw every man clearly” (right)
DEDICATION The plaque under the window records, “In Memory of Charles Goddard Died Octr 29th 1864”
Goddard was a surgeon based in Rowcroft
Window 2. Mary meets the Risen Jesus, 1866
LOCATION South aisle
MAKER Unknown
THEME Mary meets the Risen Jesus. The inscription at the bottom of glass reads "I ascend to my father and your father, my God and your God"
DEDICATION The plaque under the window records, "To the glory of God and in memory of Thomas Daniel Hill of The Thrupp near Stroud who died September 3rd 1866“
Hill was a farmer and haulier.
Window 3. Jesus, Martha and Mary in Bethany, 1873
LOCATION South aisle
MAKER H Hughes, London, 1873
THEME Jesus, Martha and Mary in Bethany. The inscription at the bottom of glass reads, "Mary hath chosen that good part"
DEDICATION The plaque under the window records, "To the glory of God and in memory of Clara Mary wife of the Revd C Poynder this window is placed by loving friends AD 1873“
Window 4. The Evangelists & St Laurence, 1868
LOCATION South transept, south wall
MAKER Heaton, Butler & Bayne
THEME The Evangelists & St Laurence. The pictures in the large panes represent from left to right St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke and St John. The top of the window depicts scenes from the life of St Laurence.
DEDICATION The inscription at the bottom reads, "To the glory of God and in memory of Anne wife of James Mander who died Febry 11th 1868, aged 64 yr“
James Mander was a local landowner
Window 5. Jones Memorial, 1889
LOCATION South transept, east wall
MAKER Unknown
THEME Jones memorial. The inscription in the middle two windows reads, "Keep thy father's commandments“ and "Forsake not the law of thy mother“
DEDICATION The inscription at the bottom of the three main windows reads, "Dedicated to the memory of Charles and Charlotte Jones by their only child Maria Jones 1889“
Charles Jones had a brewery in Church Street
Window 6. The Parable of the Talents, 1868
LOCATION Lady Chapel
MAKER Lavers & Barraud, 1868
THEME The Parable of the Talents. "He that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his lord's money" (left); "Well done good and faithful servant" (centre); "He that had received five talents went and traded with the same" (right)
DEDICATION The plaque to left of window states that this window was given in memory of Charles Stanton of Upfield, Paganhill, who died aged 67 on 27th March 1863, by his surviving wife
In its bottom right-hand corner, the window shows a bale with a wooltrader's mark
Window 7. Scenes from the Life of Jesus, 1866
LOCATION Chancel
MAKER Heaton Butler & Bayne, 1866
THEME Scenes from the Life of Jesus. The Annunciation; The Wise Men; The Resurrection; The Ascension; The Nativity; Flight from Herod; The commissioning of the Disciples; Pentecost.; The Crucifixion. The two small lights at the top show the Greek letters Alpha and Omega ("I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end“), and the IHS monogram, an abbreviation or shortening of Jesus' name in Greek to the first three letters
DEDICATION "To the glory of God and in affectionate remembrance of William Stanton late of The Thrupp in this parish. He died July 18th 1841 aged 83. Also of Ann his wife who died November 16th 1842 aged 79.”
Window 8. The Temple in Jerusalem, 1885
LOCATION East wall by the organ
MAKER Heaton Butler & Bayne, about 1885
THEME The Temple in Jerusalem. The inscription in the top left small window reads, "Lord, I have loved the“, and top right reads "habitation of thy house“. The inscription at the bottom of the windows reads, "O how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts.“
DEDICATION This window is a memorial to Dr John Badcock who was vicar when the church was rebuilt in 1886
Window 9. Abraham buries Sarah, 1869
LOCATION North transept, east wall
MAKER Unknown, 1869
THEME Abraham Buries Sarah. Just discernible under the right-hand picture is "Abraham buried Sarah...in the cave of the field of Macpelah"
DEDICATION Only "the field" in the middle light, and "1869" in the bottom right-hand corner are now clearly visible
Window 10. St Stephen and The Acts of Mercy, 1868
LOCATION North transept, north wall (St Stephen's Chapel)
MAKER Heaton, Butler & Bayne
THEME St Stephen and The Acts of Mercy. The main part of the window, badly weathered, shows the "Acts of Mercy“: Feed the hungry; Give drink to the thirsty; Clothe the naked; Assisting the blind; Shelter to the homeless; Visit the sick; Visit the imprisoned; and Bury the dead. The top part of the window depicts the Stoning of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr.
DEDICATION The inscription at the bottom reads, "To the honour and glory of God and in memory of John Biddell of Stratford [Abbey] near Stroud who died April 25th 1863 aged 74 years and of Hannah his wife who died February 22nd 1860 aged 62 years“
John Biddell was a wealthy businessman and mill owner, who died on the 25th April 1863, aged seventy-four years. He is buried in Stroud Cemetery. He was the owner of Stratford Mill (a flour-mill) and the adjacent Stratford Abbey, and later expanded by acquiring Cuttle’s Mill at Wallbridge. Although very prosperous himself, he took great interest in the problems being experienced by local farmers and worked ceaselessly to protect British agriculture. On the 25th February 1845 a testimonial was presented to him by the farmers of Gloucestershire, recognising the work he had done on their behalf. A silver kettle with stand was inscribed “Presented to John Biddle, Esq; of Stratford Abbey near Stroud, by the farmers of Gloucestershire for his zealous exertions in the cause of Protection to British Agriculture Tues, Feb 25th 1845”. It was noted that there were three hundred subscriptions of five shillings each. He was involved with local charities, helping to raise money for schools and Stroud Hospital.
Window 11. Praise and Resurrection, 1914
LOCATION North Aisle
MAKER Heaton Butler & Bayne, London, 1914
THEME Praise and Resurrection. The inscription in the roundel at the top of the window held by the angels reads, "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts“. The left-hand figure represents Praise, and the right one Resurrection.
DEDICATION "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Alfred John and Harriet Margaret Stanton 1914 RIP“
Window 12. St George, St Martin, Mary & Child St George, 1922
12 Window in Memory of Charles Holbrow, Walter John and Mary Stanton, 1922
LOCATION North Aisle
MAKER JCN Bewsey, 1922
THEME St George, St Martin, Mary & Child St George - "Scs Georgius martyr Xpi....“ (St George martyr of Christ....) (left); St Martin - "Scs Martin" (St Martin) - “Episcopus et Confessor Xpi” (Bishop and Confessor of Christ) (right); Shield under St Martin - "Dum spiro spero“ (While I breathe, I hope). Mary and Child in the top window
DEDICATION “Remember O Lord thy servants Charles Holbrow Stanton M.A. who died 14th January 1914 aged 88 and Walter John Stanton J. D. who died 3rd August 1913 aged 85 and Mary his wife who died 8th March 1894 aged 48”
Window 13. Dedicated to Children of the Schools, 1877
LOCATION West wall of tower
MAKER Ward & Hughes, London, 1873-1877
THEME Jesus blessing the children; Christ Blessing the Children
DEDICATION Contributions towards the cost of this window were collected by children "those of the schools and others"
The Church Organ
The current church organ is a fine three-manual instrument built and installed by Norman & Beard of Norwich in 1906, to a specification by Dr Charles Harford Lloyd. It replaced the original organ which had been installed by John Avery of Westminster in 1798. It was subject to a major refurbishment in 1996, when it was converted to an electro-pneumatic action.
In 2016 further work was done to repair the bellows.
The Original Organ
The original church organ by John Avery of Westminster had been installed on 18th April 1798 in a gallery at the west end of the nave, and this was considered a great event in the annals of Stroud. William Ellis, the officiating curate, recorded it in the parish register.
Oak panels from the old organ gallery, inscribed with a record of the original benefactions; were removed when the new church was built 1866-1868, and used to line the walls and cupboard insides of the new vestry.
St Laurence Church Organists (Dates Active)
James Chew (1851-1899)
A local man, born in 1828 who was appointed organist at Chalford Church at the age of just 14. Eventually devoting himself fully to music, he opened a music shop in Stroud, and was appointed organist and choirmaster at St Laurence on Christmas Day 1851. He led the band at Stroud Choral Society concerts for many years before dying in 1899.
Thomas Hackwood (1899-1902)
Thomas Hackwood was a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and was the organist at Stroud Parish Church and conductor of the Stroud Choral Society from 1899. He was a musical prodigy, studying music from a very early age and he was only eleven years old when he was appointed organist of the Church of St Paul, Jarrow-on-Tyne (this was prior to his move to Gloucestershire), a position he held for six or seven years. At the age of eighteen he came to Gloucester as the pupil of Dr Lloyd, who was the organist at Gloucester Cathedral. In addition to his professional duties, Thomas Hackwood collaborated with Sidney Cubitt in writing comic operas, which were performed at the Subscription Rooms. Thomas was buried in Stroud Cemetery on the 15th March 1902 aged just thirty-nine years old, having suffered from ‘emphysema and gangrene of the lung’.
Samuel William Underwood (1906-1958)
Samuel William Underwood was famously Organist of St Laurence and Conductor of Stroud Choral Society between 1906 and 1958, being awarded an MBE in 1957 for his contribution to music in the West Country.
Mark Foster (1959-1961)
Mark Foster was appointed organist and choirmaster in 1959. He was a student at the Royal College of Music and subsequently joined the London Symphony Orchestra, before devoting his attention to the organ. He resigned his post in 1961 in order to become Head of Music at Cirencester Grammar School.
John Denton (1961-1983)
John Denton, was organist and choirmaster from 1961. He was tragically killed in a car crash in March 1985.
Christopher Boodle (1983 - Present)
Our current organist and Director of Music is Christopher Boodle. Christopher was born in Gloucester in 1952 and received his musical education at New College, Oxford, and the Royal College of Music in London. During his student years he gained the A.R.C.M. and F.R.C.O. diplomas, in addition to receiving first prize in the Incorporated Association of Organists Competition in 1974. For six years he lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, combining the post of Assistant Cathedral organist with teaching and conducting a choral society. In 1983 he moved back to England.
