Facilities and features
Accessibility
In the Breakspear Room, the extension on the rear (north side) of the church.
In the toilet for the disabled in the Breakspear Room, the extension on the rear (north side) of the church.
The car park is behind the church, follow the drive down the side of the church to access it.
In the Breakspear Room, the extension on the rear (north side) of the church.
Flat access is available via the Breakspear Room, the extnsion on the rear (north side) of the church.
Available at all main services - please ask if you need to use it at other services.
Large print orders of service are usually available as well as copies of the weekly leaflet - please ask when you arrive at a service.
Our Building
St Lawrence is a Grade 1 listed building, the earliest parts of which date from around 1150. There is much of historical interest to look at including monuments and stained glass windows. More details information can be found at: https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1296433
Music and Worship
We have a peal of six bells which are rung for all main services and when requested, for weddings. If you are an experienced bell ringer or if you would like to learn, they practice on a Monday evening from around 7.30 to 9.00 pm and ring from 9.00 am for 30 minutes before the main service on a Sunday morning - why not come along?
We host a wide range of concerts throughout most years. On the four Saturdays of May each year we have a Spring Concert Series which includes both instrumentalists and singers.
The church houses a fine two-manual Nicholson organ which was built in 1971 after a serious fire in the church destroyed the previous instrument in 1969. It is located in front of the West wall of the Corpus Christi Chapel (facing East), adjacent to the choir stalls. It has both electric key and stop action and with only 19 speaking stops, it has tremendous versatility and is suitable for a huge variety of organ music. It is an excellent example of a Nicholson organ.
St Lawrence Church has a long and rich musical tradition. The robed choir of 4-part (SATB) adult voices plays an integral role in leading the worship of the church. The choir sings at the main Sunday service (usually Parish Communion); major festivals; Choral Evensong; and Weddings (when requested).
The choir sings a broad repertoire of music from the Anglican choral tradition and there are also opportunities to take part in concerts as well as visits to sing services at cathedrals and other churches.
Groups, Courses and Activities
There are a couple of fairly large brasses in the church, suitable for brass rubbing. Please contact the church office for further details.
Every Monday morning in the Breakspear Room (on the rear, north, side of the church) between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm - come and meet friends, or make new ones, for a chat over a coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
We run a Messy Church jointly with the Methodist Church on the second Wednesday of each month in the Methodist Church and hall from 3.30/4.00 to 6.00 pm. Suitable for parents, grandparents, carers and children up to primary 5 or 6. Stories, activities, a short time of worship and a meal together. Give us a try!
We meet for Communion on the second Wednesday of each month at 10.15 am in St Lawrence followed by coffee and a chat in the Breakspear Room. On the third Tuesday evening of each month we have an evening meeting, usually at 8.00 pm in the Breakspear Room but sometimes we go out for a walk or have a meal out together. We have a membership of over 20 which includes a couple of men - our members are married, divorced, widowed and single - and not all are mothers but they all subsribe to wanting to support and strengthen marriage and family life.
We host a Youth Club run jointly with members of the church and the local YMCA. This takes place in the church hall on Tuesdays during term time at 7.00 pm for pupils in local senior schools. All welocme - just come along.
Help for Visitors
We have available an A5 handout with details about the church including the history, architecture, monuments and stained glass windows.
The church is open daily between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm. You are welcome to come in to walk around, to sit quietly, to light a candle or to pray - to find a sense of peace and history from over 950 years of worship on this site. Please sign the Visitors Book - we love to know where our visitors come from.
Other Features
We try to use Fairtrade goods whenever possible. We encourage our church members to shop for fairly traded items whenever possible.
We keep a stock of foodbank parcels which we hand out to those who come to us with a 'red form' following a visit to the Citizens' Advice Bureau, which is held in church premises. We also collect food for the Watford Food Bank - items can be left in the box in church.
We are part of the Abbots Langley High Street Conservation Area. We try to maintain our churchyard with an eye on conservation and to encourage wildlife into the area.
We have a church hall which is hired out for regular groups.