Church of St Lawrence, Priddy

{{Short description|Church in Somerset, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox Historic building

|image=St Laurence, Priddy (geograph 4906815).jpg

|caption=

|name=Church of St Lawrence

|location_town=Priddy

|location_country=England

|architect=

|client=

|engineer=

|construction_start_date=

|completion_date=13th century

|date_demolished=

|cost=

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|style=

|size=

|map_type=Somerset

|coordinates = {{coord|51.2597|-2.6774|display=inline}}

}}

The Anglican Church of St Lawrence at Priddy, Somerset, England, dates from the 13th century, with some rebuilding in the 15th century and was restored in 1881–88; it is a Grade I listed building.{{cite web | title=Church of St Lawrence | work=historicengland.org.uk | url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1177825 | accessdate=2006-07-17}}{{cite web|title=Church of St Lawrence|url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1177825|website=National heritage List for England|publisher=Historic England|accessdate=18 September 2016}}

The church was dedicated to St Lawrence on 10 August 1352.{{cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=Alan|title=The Story of Priddy|date=1989|publisher=Ina Books|isbn=978-1869897048|pages=17–22}} By the 19th century the church was in a bad state of repair and water was coming in through the roof and underwent extensive restoration including repairs to the tower. During the process a memorial stone commemorating repairs carried out following the Great Storm of 1703.

The church has a nave, chancel, north aisle, north and south transepts and a south porch. The three-stage west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses. The three bells in the church were augmented to five in 1997. The church includes a medieval altar frontal.{{cite book |last=Reid |first= Robert Douglas |author-link= |title=Some buildings of Mendip |year=1979 |publisher=The Mendip Society |location= |isbn=0-905459-16-4 }}

The interior includes 15th century rood and parclose screens and stone pulpit at the remains of the rood stair. The Baptismal font is Norman. The pews and other woodwork were all renewed in the 19th century. A silver guilt chalice from 1573, owned by the church is kept in a bank vault. A 15th century altar frontal of irises on Italian brocade is now preserved in a glass case.

The church is surrounded by a circular churchyard which predates the building.{{cite book|last=Dunning|first=Robert|title=Somerset Churches and Chapels: Building Repair and Restoration|date=2007|publisher=Halsgrove|isbn=978-1841145921|page=33}}

The benefice of Priddy is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.{{cite web|title=St Laurence, Priddy|url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/priddy-st-lawrence/|website=A Church Near You|publisher=Church of England|accessdate=18 September 2016}}