SAVE THE LYCHGATE!

SAVE THE LYCHGATE!

St. Lawrence’s Church is launching an appeal to save one of the most prominent features of the village.

The lychgate stands at the main entrance to the churchyard from the High Street. It was commissioned as a memorial to Queen Victoria in 1901, and paid for by donations from the people of the parish. It was designed by architect Fredrick Kinnier-Tarte of St. Albans, and constructed by local tradesman Edwin Glenister.

Lychgates are a traditional feature of English churchyards, and in the Middle Ages the initial part of a funeral service would take part under their shelter – this sombre purpose lending the gate its name (‘lych’ being a Saxon term for corpse).

For more than a hundred years, our lychgate has provided a focal point in the village, a fitting entrance to the churchyard, and shelter for all who need it. It is however now in need of specialist restoration, or we will soon become the generation that let it fall down.

The Vicar, Rev. Peter Waddell, said: ‘The lychgate is a lovely feature of the churchyard and village, and a fine piece of craftsmanship. It would be such a shame for it to continue to deteriorate: it’s time to give it another hundred years of life.’

The cost of the work is estimated to be £15,000. The church has already made a flying start with all proceeds from its popular May Concert series going to the appeal, and with generous gifts already received – but now is appealing to the whole community to give whatever it can in support of this beautiful part of our village heritage.

PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN! YOU CAN GIVE:

DIRECTLY ONLINE HERE:

https://givealittle.co/c/2i7Py9QbsE2rNXATM0eqj5

OR VIA BANK TRANSFER….

Abbots Langley P C C - St Lawrence & Church of The Ascension. RCN 1130597

Lloyds Bank

Sort Code 30-99-21

Account Number 01540225

Reference: 'Lychgate'

OR BY USING THE QR CODE BELOW ….

OR BY CASH OR CHEQUE (PAYABLE TO ‘ABBOTS LANGLEY PCC’) AT THE PARISH OFFICE: St. Lawrence Church, High Street, Abbots Langley, WD5 0AS (opening hours 10-1 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri).