This is Us
The Church has been at the centre of our village community for centuries; it is part of our cultural heritage and has provided a strong foundation, always being there for villagers to worship, pray and mark important life moments such as weddings, baptisms and funerals. Beyond that it is an important community resource, able to host events such as concerts, exhibitions and other gatherings.
In any community the upkeep of the church building is the responsibility of that community. The Friends of St. Laurence Church is a registered charity (No. 1001205) formed in 1990 with the aim of raising funds to support the maintenance and repair of our village Church and churchyard, in recognition of this community responsibility.
During the past 30 years, the Friends have raised well over £100,000 towards vital repair and restoration work when the Church has needed financial help. This is through membership subscriptions, donations, legacies, special village events and appeals.. We work closely with the parish council, the vicar and churchwardens to identify and prioritise work needed, raise the required funds and help to see projects through to completion.
Trustees
The Friends are made up of a wide range of the community who are keen to support the objectives of the group. Yes, most ‘Friends’ do donate a modest monthly donation, but others buy tickets to village events (jazz and tribute concerts), come to the Warborough and Shillingford Open Gardens event every 2 years - even volunteer by helping to lay the new path from the lychgate to the porch! Below are the Trustee team.
Malcolm Munro-Faure
CHAIRMAN Phone 07506 102340
Malcolm is the chairman of the Friends, taking over from Martyn Drury in 2025. He brings with him valuable expertise in the charity fundraising sector as well as a broad business background gained over many years.
He is extremely well known in the village. Malcolm is married to Lesley.
Alan Lamb
HON SECRETARY Phone 07774 486784
Alan is the Friends’ honorary secretary and leads on liaison with the church team - vicar and churchwardens, to identify and prioritise projects. Alan also leads on the work with grant giving bodies, including the Heritage Lottery fund.
Alan is married to Pippa and spends any spare time worrying about his sheep.
Howard Unna
HON TREASURER Phone 07392 785777
Howard is relatively new to Warborough (just 5 years resident) but already feels like part of the village furniture. He is the honorary treasurer for the Friends, as well as helping with grant applications, community donations and communications.
Howard is married to Julia, who is quite simply far more interesting than him…
St Laurence, Warborough
The present church dates from the early 13th century as represented by the walls and some of the windows of the chancel although updating and alteration occurred in the 14th century. The font is the oldest feature of the church and dates from c1200 and was probably retained from an earlier church in the parish. The doorway in the south wall is 13th century and although the door has been renewed the iron fittings are original. The nave and south transept are 14th century and the tower was rebuilt in 1666 with the date appearing in large numbers in flint within the flint and stone chequer pattern.
The bells were rehung in 1675 and two of these still remain. In 1871, at the same time as the church clock was installed, the old third bell which had broken in 1860 was recast by Mears & Stainbank and was rehung by Frederick White of Appleton. The funds were raised by public subscription and the names of the committee and churchwardens are inscribed on the bell. The six bells were augmented to eight in 1955 when Mears and Stainbank cast two new bells and recast the old Fourth to become the new Sixth. They were rehung clockwise in a new steel frame by Frank White.
The pulpit dates from 1638 and the lectern was presented by Corpus Christi at the time of the 1912-14 restoration. It shows a pelican feeding its young which is the emblem of the college. The majority of the stained glass is late19th or 20th century although there are some small areas of mediaeval glass.
In the churchyard stands the restored village cross which retains its mediaeval shaft with iron hooks for holding wreaths. There is a group of three late C18 limestone chest tombs 10 metres to the south of the church. All tombs have flat tops with moulded edges, and the sides have fielded panels. Inscriptions on the panels are now illegible but the largest tomb (approximately 2m. by 3m.) has an inscription on the cover commemorating Thomas Blackall who lived at Court Farmhouse and is said to have weighed 32 ½ stone when he died in 1779.
