to St Laurence church, Bradford on Avon
Our beautiful ancient church dates back to the early eleventh century. Rediscovered in the nineteenth century, it remains a place of worship and pilgrimage.
The twelfth century historian William of Malmesbury reports that the church was standing in the 1120s, but thought it dated back to the time of St Aldhelm (d. 709). A charter of King Æthelred granted Bradford to the nuns of Shaftesbury in 1001, and the church’s architecture suggests it was built for the nuns early in the eleventh century.
It is evident that this is a characteristic Anglo-Saxon building: tall and narrow with small windows. Yet for hundreds of years it was lost, no longer used as a church and hidden amidst adjacent buildings. Used from 1715 as a school before being abandoned, it was rediscovered in 1871 by Canon Jones (a Vicar of Holy Trinity and an ardent historian). It was Canon Jones whom arranged the purchase of the building and created the Trust that still looks after it today.
St Laurence’s Church is still used regularly by the local community, as well as by Christian groups. It is part of the network of Small Pilgrim Places.