St Lawrence at Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England, 8th-11th Century

Image: Watkin, History of Western Architecture

     The small church in England is one of the few original Anglo-Saxon churches in England that does not show later modifications or reconstruction.  Dedicated to St. Lawrence, one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus III, some opinions believe that it was dedicated by St. Aldhelm in the eight century. There is some conflict as to when the small church was built. One opinion is that the two parts, the upper and lower, were constructed at different times and another is that the structure was constructed in its entirety in around 1000 CE. According to the first opinion, the lower part was constructed approximately around the year 700 CE and the upper portion around 975 CE. These opinions are based on either written sources or the style in which it was constructed. According to the written sources, the church was built in the early eight century. According to the style in which it was constructed, it dates to the tenth and eleventh century.

     The small church is well proportioned and was carefully built with stones adorned with blind arcading on the exterior. There was s projecting porch on the south side which has since been destroyed but the north porch still stands. The nave is long and narrow, and as high as it is long, twenty five feet (seven and a half meters). Its width is approximately thirteen feet or four meters. The steep and narrow proportions of the church are emphasized by the small size of the chancel arch which is only three and a half feet wide (one hundred and seven millimeters). The decoration includes fragments of large reliefs which gives a small hint of richness as well as angles carved into stone. The church is miniature and minimal which gives it a serene and simple feeling.

Image: britannia.com

Image: greatenglishchurches.co.uk

     The nave was used as a school from 1715 until it was discovered. The chancel was divided into three stories and was used as a cottage for many years. It was recognized for its Saxon fabric in 1856 by Canon Jones, the Vicar of Bradford. During repairs, the carved angels were discovered which led to the realization that this small building was an ancient church from a passage in William of Malmesbury's Gesta Pontificum (dated circa 1125) "to this day at that place there exists a little church which Aldhelm is said to have built to the name of the most blessed Laurence". It was recognized and restored as a church in 1870–80. The modern restorations were only to update stairs and windows. The church was in remarkable shape, one of the most preserved of its time.

Sources-

1: Watkin, David. A History of Western Architecture: Sixth ed. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1986. Print.
2; https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1036034
3: http://www.britannia.com/church/saxchurch/bradford1.html