The 'new' church (1883)

St. Lawrence’s church building is the largest in York after the Minster! A couple of generations ago, when many of the current congregation were even younger than they are today, the worshipping congregation was also one of the largest in York. Decades of gradual decline led to the church coming extremely close to closure. The building had become badly damaged by damp and dry rot.
BUT THEN English Heritage gave a substantial grant to restore the fabric of the church, and recently, God be praised, the church community has been enjoying significant growth, with many children and families participating in worship again. The church is stunningly beautiful, inside and out, bearing the sooty stains of the neighbourhood's industrial past with pride. We are now seeking to install a new heating system - until then we worship in the church hall whenever the church is too cold. But we’ve nearly outgrown the hall, so the heating system is an urgent priority! The established congregation who have been there for years have always been a cheerful lot, and are now all the more so!
The "New Church" was originally built following an appeal by the Rev. George Frederick Wade who was vicar from 1867 to 1882. Then the three districts of St. Lawrence's, New Fulford and old St. Lawrence's had an estimated 7,500 inhabitants. The old church held 230. It was felt that this was inadequate so a new church to accommodate 800 was proposed. The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Thompson on 25th. April 1881 and the church was consecrated in 1883. The tower and spire were added in 1893. As the largest parish church in York it became known as "the Minster Without the Walls." There was some restoration in 1925 when three new stained glass windows were added, the choir stalls were moved and the west end opened out. Bell ringing bands from all over the UK regularly visit St. Lawrence to ring our magnificent new peal of eight bells, baptised on Easter Day 1999, and dedicated on 4th July 1999.

The 'old' church (12th century tower)

The district forming the parish was part of a farm belonging to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster, given to it in the seventh or eighth century. The lands which were parts of the parish were quite extensive reaching to the village of Heslington. Some of the tithes went to the prebend of Ampleforth Abbey, helping to pay the salary of the canon who occupied the prebendal stall of Ampleforth in the Cathedral.
Part of the old church was destroyed during the seige of York in 1644. The churchyard became a battleground where the fiercest fighting of the seige took place. Such were the "irregularities" in the parish boundaries it was necessary for Henrietta Maria Yarburgh of Heslington Hall to come to her parish church, St. Lawrence's. to marry the architect-dramatist Sir John Vanburgh in 1719, rather than use Heslington Church opposite to the hall.
Records dated 1743 show that there were fifty nine families in the parish. It is recorded that "one family thereof are Papists and two called by ye name of Quakers". Since there was not a parsonage house the vicar of the parish was not resident. We are told that the Public Service was read in church once a fortnight in the afternoon and Holy Communion was administered four times a year when about forty received." The old church of St. Lawrence consisted of a tower, nave and chancel at the siege when part was destroyed . It remained in ruins until 1799 when restoration was begun and completed in 1817.
The old tower of the fourteenth century still remains and is now administered by The Churches Conservation Trust.
The 14th century font is in the present church.
We are told that there are Parliamentarian soldiers buried in our churchyard.