HISTORY OF |
Today's redundant church on the south side of the High Street
was the site of New Brentford's chapel, then parish church, for
at least eight centuries, but no service have been held there
for the last forty years. The church's tower, built around 1480,
is the oldest structure in Brentford. The first religious building
known to have been here was a chapel attached to the hospital
of St Lawrence, which was, founded between 1175 and 1179 by
Ralph de Brito, the Lord of Boston Manor. It was served by a
chaplain (called a curate after 1500) and had its own burial
ground, but all offerings and tithes went to the Rector of
Hanwell the parish it was in. In 1529 the curate's stipend
was increased by rents from the George Inn near the church
and adjoining cottages; it was further increased in 1723 by
Queen Anna's Bounty (a fund to benefit poorer clergy). This
enabled New Brentford to became a parish in its own right in
1744. The house adjoining the church was leased to the parish
in 1646 for a peppercorn rent by Sir Edward Spencer, Lord of
the Manor of Boston for 'use and behalf of the Minister or
for such poor people as should be placed there'. The vicarage
was built in 1696 but demolished in 1889 and replaced by a new
vicarage, which has since been turned into flats.
Over the centuries the church was repair, extended and otherwise
altered but nothing remains of the early buildings today, apart
from the tower of Kentish rag stone with Reigate stone dressings.
In 1762 its fabric was decayed and it was decided to rebuild it
but to retain the tower. Services were moved to the Red Lion,
Market Place until the church was completed in1764. Built of
brick by Thomas Hardwick, a local man, it was designed by
Boulton Mainwaring on an alignment similar to its predecessor
but extending further to the south. Brentford's most notable
curate, John Horne (later John HorneTooke was the officiating
Minster during the rebuild. The church had seating for 500
people but even this was proving inadequate at the end of
the 18th century. It wasn't, though until 1874 that a south
aisle was built to replace the galleries and to provide
50 extra seats. According to a visitor in 1876 the interior
was 'gaily painted'. In 1961 when the various Brentford
parishes were combined the church of St Lawrence was closed
and in 1978 it was let on a 99-lease to the St Lawrence
Brentford Trust. There have been many schemes to re-use
the building as a restaurant or a theatre but to date none
of these has come to fruition.
FOOT NOTE:-
When I (P.W.RUTT) was 7 and attending the Ealing Road Baptist, by
Greet Road, we were asked if any of the boys would like to become
Choirboys I was the only one to accept this offer and I went to St
Lawrences for 10 years, leaving when I was 17, as I was called up
for National Service in the RAF. While I was there I, along with
the other Choirboys (About 12 in number)use to have breakfast at
the Vicarage, with Wally Paton, who was the Vicar, and his wife.
afterwards, we were ready for the service in church. I also went
during the war to St Pauls Catheral in London for a service, there
was a selected choirboy from various church in england. we got
changed in the crypt under St. Paul's. The Choir Master at St.
Lawrencws was Mr Goose from Boston Manor Rpad near the Station,
he was a brilliant player of the organ. I use to earn a couple of
shillings a week, pumping the organ for Miss Parker, from 180
Ealing Rd, who was learning to be an Organist. In the graveyard
at the back of the is a tombstone dedicated to a pirate (true).