History
Click on the cover to download the 2022 History of the Church
See also our pages on:
Northfield Revealed / English Heritage / Stained Glass
St Laurence is one of four remaining medieval churches in Birmingham. The present church was mainly built between the 12th-15th centuries. A new north aisle was added 1898-1900 and vestries 1959-60.
The earliest part of the building is the Norman north doorway c1170 which was re-set in the new north aisle wall, along with the three original medieval nave windows. The round arch has zig zag and “beak head” patterns typical of its date.
Northfield Revealed / English Heritage / Stained Glass
St Laurence is one of four remaining medieval churches in Birmingham. The present church was mainly built between the 12th-15th centuries. A new north aisle was added 1898-1900 and vestries 1959-60.
The earliest part of the building is the Norman north doorway c1170 which was re-set in the new north aisle wall, along with the three original medieval nave windows. The round arch has zig zag and “beak head” patterns typical of its date.
There are also two pairs of 12th century carved heads on the lower stage of the tower, probably reset when the Norman chancel and tower were rebuilt c 1230 in the Early English style, characterised by the lancet windows.
The south aisle and nave were rebuilt in the early 14th century, as the windows with the characteristic “Y tracery” of the English Decorated period indicate. The arcade between the nave and aisle appears to have become unsafe and was rebuilt later that century, along with additional buttresses for the south wall. The upper stage of the tower and the porch were added in the late 14th or early 15th centuries. An archaeological survey report on early foundations discovered during work in early 2021 can be downloaded here (text version)
Unusually there is no stone Chancel arch. Instead four separate but contiguous roof trusses act as an arch. Above, a rare medieval tympanum is still in place, resting on a tie beam, with the frame showing grooves for wattle and daub in fill. When the plasterwork was removed in 1955 it revealed traces of a “Doom” painting, probably Judgement Day, on the boards behind. The traditional figures of the rood, the crucified Christ, the Virgin Mary and St John in medieval style were placed here in 1956.
A full statement of significance for the Church and Churchyard can be downloaded here
A list of the ecclesiastical records from the Parish which are held by the Library of Birmingham can be found here
A list of the Rectors of Northfield from the Norman Conquest to February 2022
A copy of The Grid Iron (the Church magazine) for August 1956 can be downloaded here
The Church graveyard contains 16 Commonwealth War Graves. Download the list here
War Graves records for those lost from the Parish of Northfield can be found:
A-B / C / D-F / G-H / K-O / P-R / S-Y
St Laurence Church - corner of Rectory Road, Church Road
& Church Hill, Northfield, Birmingham
Postal address: c/o St Laurence Pastoral Centre, 173 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 2LX
Unusually there is no stone Chancel arch. Instead four separate but contiguous roof trusses act as an arch. Above, a rare medieval tympanum is still in place, resting on a tie beam, with the frame showing grooves for wattle and daub in fill. When the plasterwork was removed in 1955 it revealed traces of a “Doom” painting, probably Judgement Day, on the boards behind. The traditional figures of the rood, the crucified Christ, the Virgin Mary and St John in medieval style were placed here in 1956.
A full statement of significance for the Church and Churchyard can be downloaded here
A list of the ecclesiastical records from the Parish which are held by the Library of Birmingham can be found here
A list of the Rectors of Northfield from the Norman Conquest to February 2022
A copy of The Grid Iron (the Church magazine) for August 1956 can be downloaded here
The Church graveyard contains 16 Commonwealth War Graves. Download the list here
War Graves records for those lost from the Parish of Northfield can be found:
A-B / C / D-F / G-H / K-O / P-R / S-Y
St Laurence Church - corner of Rectory Road, Church Road
& Church Hill, Northfield, Birmingham
Postal address: c/o St Laurence Pastoral Centre, 173 Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, B31 2LX
Proud to be a member of the Birmingham Heritage Forum