Palladian Church
Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire
A temple to Apollo where George Bernard Shaw played the organ.
St Giles Church, II* listed, of stone and flint, reflects communities through ten centuries, nestling in the brow of a hill near an ancient copper beech.
Consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester around 1111 and dedicated to St Giles with a chapel of the Holy Innocents, the lowest stage of the tower, and ironwork at the south door and belfry steps are all that remains of the earliest church.
The mainly 15th century bell tower, topped with a lead Hertfordshire spike, has a clock dating from 1731, and is hung with eight bells, six of which date between 1782 and 1792, with two added at the millennium. The west door opens to four steps, through pews with fleur-de-lys and poppy heads, overlooking the 13th century nave which extends past an octagonal carved stone font, through four bays to the chancel.
Above the west door is the earliest stained glass window illustrating St Michael and the Heavenly Host. To the north wall is a 13th century lancet window; 19th century glass showing St Giles and St Alban; St Patrick and St John. In the chancel are the Holy Women at the Tomb, and behind the altar, Christ, the Good Shepherd, and Suffer Little Children. In the chapel: Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Joseph, Jacob and Rachel.
The porch windows are by St Crispin Glass Studio and Agnes Charles, (1968), who also created the plaster mosaics above the chancel (1994). The vestry has a three bay, 19th century screen with decorative artwork and a processional board, both depicting the Lamb, which is also shown on the brass altar cross, in front of the Good Shepherd window. With the sound of sheep in today’s churchyard, there is a flow to the pastoral theme of St Giles through the centuries.
The church displays decorative pieces, with The Arts Society recording over 200 items, including the Old Dog bookstand, once lost then found in the Old Curiosity Shop, Drury Lane. In the churchyard the John Gootheridge leaping board marks the re-burial spot in 1824 after his body was stolen by thieves for medical purposes, but retrieved.
A fascinating church to explore more of!