St Laurence's Church, Slough

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One of three churches in the modern parish of Upton-cum-Chalvey, Saint Laurence's Church is the oldest building in the borough of Slough, in Berkshire.

In the 12th Century the wooden parish church of Upton was replaced with a flint building. The Tower and outside walls of the Norman building form part of the present church. Several walls bear testament to 'pudding-stone' construction. Two other Norman features survive: the ancient baptismal font, and a piscina. During the reformation, many of the ancient decorations were mutilated. A 13th Century Italian allegorical image of the Trinity — God Father, Son and Holy Spirit — survived and was reassembled during the restoration of the church.

[edit] Dereliction and Restoration

By the early nineteenth century the church had fallen into such disrepair that it was decided to build a new church, Saint Mary’s, in the town centre. The Norman building was saved from demolition by a local farmer who secured the outside walls and tower. Saint Laurence’s was restored 1850-1851 and rededicated on 2 December 1851.

[edit] Famous associations with the church

The churchyard may have inspired the 1751 Elegy in a country churchyard by local poet Thomas Gray (1716-1771). Saint Laurence’s ‘ivy-mantled tow’r’ was a well-known landmark housing a curfew bell that ‘tolls the knell of parting day’ across the fields of Eton College.

The churchyard is also the final resting place of Slough astronomer Sir William Herschel (1738-1822), the discoverer of Uranus, and his grandson Alexander Herschel. St Laurence's church recently installed an impressive set of stained-glass windows to commemorate Herschel and his discovery.

Charles Hatchett (1765-1847), discoverer of niobium, is buried here.

The current organist is the poet and translator, Keith Bosley.