St Lawrence Church Alton
Hampshire
About us Who’s Who Beech Church
Young
People
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The Anglican Church of
St Lawrence dates from Norman times and is situated in the market town of Alton
in the North of Hampshire in the UK.
We are a long established town centre church with a
colourful history.
We offer a range of services, from traditional
prayer book to informal family and youth services. Our main Sunday service is at 10 30 am and is the Parish
Eucharist. On the third Sunday we have
a shorter Family Service in a more relaxed style.
We are a community who seek to understand and
follow God’s way, meet the needs of others and care for our community, and
share our faith to those around us.
You are welcome to worship with us and explore and
deepen your relationship with God
For Baptism, Banns, Marriage,
a Visit, or Communion of the Sick: please contact the Vicarage,
or email: stlalton@btinternet.com
Sundays 8am Holy Communion (Prayerbook)
10.30
Parish Eucharist Family Service 3rd
Sunday
6.30
pm 1st Sunday Youth Praise 3rd
Evening Eucharist
4th Evensong with Sermon
Weekdays Morning
Prayer 7.30 am Evening Prayer 4.45 pm
First Friday every month Teddy Bear Service 10.30 am
Priest Revd
Peter Doores on study
leave
Curate
Revd Andrew Mickelford 01420 542288
Assistant Revd Ian Toombs Youth worker vacant
Wardens
Mr P Bell
S
Stent
Mr P Sperring
Administrator Mrs P Mills 01420 83234
Mornings Monday to Friday 9 to
12
The church of St
Lawrence is just back from the High Street, at the junction of Church Street
and Vicarage Hill.
Church Street itself is
at the junction of Normandy Street and Crown Hill at the east end of the High
Street.
Alton is 20 miles north
east of Winchester (in Hampshire) on the A31 towards Farnham and
Guildford. It is a quiet former market
town at the end of the railway line to London, and the Watercress line – (a
preserved steam railway line) running to Alresford. The village of Chawton (of Jane Austin fame) is nearby.
For those using “Sat
Nav” the postcode is GU34 2BW
Contact direct,
inquire in church, see the magazine or newssheet or via the office
Magazine: Available in church on the last Sunday of each
month.
Editor: Peter
Hicks contributions normally by the
Second Sunday of the month to the editor,
or in an envelope marked “Magazine
editor” to the vicarage or email marked “magazine”
Young Church: (Sunday School) Mrs S Newcombe
In the Church hall Sunday
mornings at 10.30 with a crèche for
younger children
Musical director: Tony Willman
Choir practice:
Friday 7.30pm
Karamoja Link: Margaret Bell 86063
Bible ReadingNotes: Margaret Bell 86063
Church Army Representative: Miss B Raban,
Church of England Children’s Society: Mrs J Thompson
Church Missionary Society: Mrs D Medden
Christian Aid / Traidcraft: Mr & Mrs McGregor
Mothers' Union: contact
Pippa Mills at the church office 01420
83234
Monthly Meeting: 2nd
Thursday 2.00 pm
EMU Fiona 542288
MNO (Men’s Night Out) Ian Tooms or
Paddy
Furniture Sales Co-ordinator: Jon Allen 88951
Monthly 1st Saturday Help and furniture always wanted
St.Lawrence Play Group: Leader - Kerry 82442
Daily Mondays - Fridays 9.00 to 11.45 am
Guides - 3rd Alton Catherine
morgan
Weekly Fridays, 7.00 pm
Hawkins Headquarters, Chawton Park Rd.
Brownies - 3rd Alton Mrs A
Davies
Weekly Tuesdays, 6.00
pm Hawkins Headquarters, Chawton Park Rd.
St Lawrence CoE School: Headteacher
01420 84400
The church
itself has been enlarged several times.
The earliest
part dates back to around 1070. It was
extended in the 13th century towards what is now the Lady
Chapel. Then again in the 15th
century it was doubled in size with the building of the (now) main isle of the
church. Click here for a
photo tour
One of its claims to fame is its part in the Battle of Alton, a
skirmish in the civil war. The
Royalists were surprised by a Parliamentary force and were beaten back to the
church where defences were set up. They
were eventually defeated and Colonel Boles and some of his men were shot in the
church and pulpit. Some evidence
remains, mainly the bullet holes in the west doors.
A detailed
account of the church, its architecture and features and a fuller account of
the civil war are to be found in the church guidebook, available from the
church.
St Lawrence church
boasts a magnificent Henry Speechly organ. Built originally in 1866 it was
completely rebuilt in 1966 with additional work carried out in 1993. It is one of the finest three-manual organs
in Southern England having 71 stops (57 being speaking stops).
There is a thriving Organ
society (founded in 1967) that runs
concerts monthly in the winter performed by distinguished national and
international organists. For details
see the leaflets in church, or contact the organ society through their web
site.
http://home.clara.net/willman/ or email:
willman@clara.net
Bells have been rung in St
Lawrence for over 250 years. The
present ring of 8 bells were cast by Messers Gillett & Johnson, of Croydon,
in 1926, with an 18cwt tenor in the key of E.
The bells are considered by many as one of the finest peals of bells in
England. They have had a recent refit,
, for the first time since they were installed.
Bellringing Practice: Thursday 7.30 pm
Sunday ringing at 10.00 am.
Evening ringing by arrangement
New ringers, novice or
experienced, are very welcome, as are those who are just inquisitive.
For details contact Mr P
Hicks. Email: peter@excalibur-systems.co.uk
Parish Centre
The church hall is adjacent to the church and was
opened in 1970.
It is available for lettings at competitive
rates.
It has a main hall, smaller rooms and kitchen. It has level access and also has a disabled
toilet. There is some car parking on site, and a large public car park nearby.
For details contact the hall manager: Mrs A Mendham
on 01420 83501
or the church office 1420 83234
We have groups and
activities for all ages, up to top teens.
There is a thriving YOUNG
CHURCH, which meets in the hall at 10:30am then joins with us in
church for the last part of our main morning service.
A crèche caters
for the very young ones and those up to year 6 have their own groups. These are
Sparklers, All Stars and Trailblazers.
For teenagers we have LAZERS
who also meet at 10 30 in the hall and the TEENS GROUP,
who meet in Mandy’s house on Tuesdays at 6pm.
The After School
Klub (A S K) for those aged 8 to
11 meets in the church hall on Wednesdays at 3 20pm. Details from Mandy or the office.
Contact St Lawrence Alton
by email: stlalton@fish.co.uk
Winchester Diocese www.winchester.anglican.org
Water
in third world www.watermatters.org.uk
Alton
Town http://www.altontown.co.uk/
Alton Council www.alton.gov.uk
Events in Alton http://www.altonevents.co.uk/
East Hants council www.easthants.gov.uk
Watercress Line www.watercressline.co.uk
Hampshire Council www.hants.gov.uk
Hampshire churches www.hants.gov.uk/links/relig.html
Your Wedding at St Lawrence
A marriage service is a public declaration
of love and commitment to each other.
If you choose to get married in church you are
also adding an extra dimension to your relationship by seeking the help and
strength that God can bring to your relationship.
At St Lawrence you have a beautiful
traditional church as a setting for your service, and an inspiring organ,
uplifting choir and a renown team of bellringers to add to you day.
Anyone who lives in the parish and who does
not have a previous spouse living is entitled to be married in either St
Lawrence or in St Peter’s Beech.
If either parent lives in the parish, or
you are a regular worshiper then you can still be married in our church.
In any other circumstances please contact
the vicar to discuss the situation.
To book the date then please contact the
parish office to discuss available dates and times. Please bear in mind the need to tie in dates and times for both
the service and the reception.
Legal stuff
Details are subject to change but believed
to be correct at time of writing (allowing for typing errors)
Please check times and dates for services
and events
Copyright St Lawrence Alton 2005/8
Last updated 27/08/08