Here we have put together some further resources that you may find useful if you are interested in the history of the church or town of Stroud, or have any family connections with them
St Laurence Parish Church History
The research on St Laurence Parish Church, Stroud, on this website has been put together by Andy Evans with assistance from Franklyn Bovey, both of St Laurence Parish Church. Additional contributions on the church bells are from Laurence Hitchins, former St Laurence Tower Captain. Further contributions have been provided by Richard Stanton and the Stanton family, Deirdre Baker and Janet Hickey.
For anyone seeking help with family history connections to the church, or with any other questions about our history, then we will endeavour to assist. You should contact the Church Office in the first instance.
The research on St Laurence Parish Church, Stroud, on this website has been put together by Andy Evans with assistance from Franklyn Bovey, both of St Laurence Parish Church. Additional contributions on the church bells are from Laurence Hitchins, former St Laurence Tower Captain. Further contributions have been provided by Richard Stanton and the Stanton family, Deirdre Baker and Janet Hickey.
For anyone seeking help with family history connections to the church, or with any other questions about our history, then we will endeavour to assist. You should contact the Church Office in the first instance.
St Laurence Church Office, The Shambles, Stroud GL5 1AP
(Open Monday-Friday 1000-1230)
Telephone: 01453 759099
Email: [email protected]
(Open Monday-Friday 1000-1230)
Telephone: 01453 759099
Email: [email protected]
Monuments and Memorials
The church has a detailed listing of all the monuments, memorials and inscriptions to be found inside the building and within the church grounds, indexed by an alphabetical listing of family names. The original information was compiled from a physical survey conducted by parishioners in the 1970s, updated by Franklyn Bovey in 2010. For 2017, Franklyn has completely revised and updated this unique database. A copy of Monuments and Memorials in and Around the Parish Church of St Laurence, Stroud is available for inspection in the church. Otherwise, any enquiries should be made via the Church Office (address above). The church grounds are no longer open for burials, though there is a Garden of Remembrance for the interment of ashes.
The church has a detailed listing of all the monuments, memorials and inscriptions to be found inside the building and within the church grounds, indexed by an alphabetical listing of family names. The original information was compiled from a physical survey conducted by parishioners in the 1970s, updated by Franklyn Bovey in 2010. For 2017, Franklyn has completely revised and updated this unique database. A copy of Monuments and Memorials in and Around the Parish Church of St Laurence, Stroud is available for inspection in the church. Otherwise, any enquiries should be made via the Church Office (address above). The church grounds are no longer open for burials, though there is a Garden of Remembrance for the interment of ashes.
Church Archives
The St Laurence Parish Church archives are held by Gloucestershire Archives, and are available to the public by prior arrangement with them. They have an online catalogue which can be used for finding out the details of their collections. Note that the church has variously been recorded as ‘St Laurence’ and ‘St Lawrence’ over the course of time, so it is recommended that you should use both spellings in any search. Similarly, some of the collections are simply recorded under 'Stroud Parish Church'.
The St Laurence Parish Church archives are held by Gloucestershire Archives, and are available to the public by prior arrangement with them. They have an online catalogue which can be used for finding out the details of their collections. Note that the church has variously been recorded as ‘St Laurence’ and ‘St Lawrence’ over the course of time, so it is recommended that you should use both spellings in any search. Similarly, some of the collections are simply recorded under 'Stroud Parish Church'.
The Ancestry family history site has worked in conjunction with Gloucestershire Archives to make some of its archive collections, including the St Laurence parish records, available online. Those records are baptisms from 1578 to 1913; marriages from 1578 to 1938; and burials from 1578 to 1903. Note that Ancestry is a subscription website.
Church Plate
The existing St Laurence church plate is on permanent display in the Gloucester Cathedral Treasury.
Church Plate
The existing St Laurence church plate is on permanent display in the Gloucester Cathedral Treasury.
Key Published Sources
Paul Hawkins Fisher's Notes and Recollections of Stroud is a key source for much of the early history of Stroud and St Laurence Church, particularly the original church. Fisher was a respected local figure and keen historian of Stroud. Notes and Recollections of Stroud was first published in 1871, and has been reprinted and republished many times since.
Mary A Rudd's Historical Record of Bisley with Lypiatt, first published in 1937, and most recently by Amberley Publishing in 2008, is a key source for Bisley and the manors of Lypiatt.
Ralph Bigland was an 18th century antiquarian, much of whose work was focused on Gloucestershire. He embarked on a task to record all the historical, monumental and genealogical collections in the county. Unpublished at the time of his death, his work was completed by others in succeeding years and eventually published, and included a record of the monumental inscriptions he found when he visited the original St Laurence Church. It is therefore a key source for these. The Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society have published his work, and the records for St Laurence can be found in Ralph Bigland - Historical, Monumental and Genealogical Collections Relative to the County of Gloucester - Part Three: Naunton-Twining (Alan Sutton Publishing, 1992).
The history of Stroud Choral Society, including many references to St Laurence, is recorded in Stroud Sings: The History of Stroud Choral Society 1834-2000 by Susan Freck (Stroud Choral Society 2001).
The story of Netlam Bigg and the founding of the Stroud Festival, again with many references to St Laurence, is told in The World of Netlam Bigg by John Gardiner (1999).
Paul Hawkins Fisher's Notes and Recollections of Stroud is a key source for much of the early history of Stroud and St Laurence Church, particularly the original church. Fisher was a respected local figure and keen historian of Stroud. Notes and Recollections of Stroud was first published in 1871, and has been reprinted and republished many times since.
Mary A Rudd's Historical Record of Bisley with Lypiatt, first published in 1937, and most recently by Amberley Publishing in 2008, is a key source for Bisley and the manors of Lypiatt.
Ralph Bigland was an 18th century antiquarian, much of whose work was focused on Gloucestershire. He embarked on a task to record all the historical, monumental and genealogical collections in the county. Unpublished at the time of his death, his work was completed by others in succeeding years and eventually published, and included a record of the monumental inscriptions he found when he visited the original St Laurence Church. It is therefore a key source for these. The Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society have published his work, and the records for St Laurence can be found in Ralph Bigland - Historical, Monumental and Genealogical Collections Relative to the County of Gloucester - Part Three: Naunton-Twining (Alan Sutton Publishing, 1992).
The history of Stroud Choral Society, including many references to St Laurence, is recorded in Stroud Sings: The History of Stroud Choral Society 1834-2000 by Susan Freck (Stroud Choral Society 2001).
The story of Netlam Bigg and the founding of the Stroud Festival, again with many references to St Laurence, is told in The World of Netlam Bigg by John Gardiner (1999).
Online Resources
British History Online is a digital library of primary and secondary sources for the history of Britain and Ireland, and contains extensive information about the town of Stroud, including its churches.
British History Online is a digital library of primary and secondary sources for the history of Britain and Ireland, and contains extensive information about the town of Stroud, including its churches.
Records of St Laurence clergy can be searched on The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540-1835 (CCED). Launched in 1999 and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, this website makes available the principal records of clerical careers from over 50 archives in England and Wales with the aim of providing coverage of as many clerical lives as possible from the Reformation to the mid-nineteenth century.
The Felstead database aims to list brief details of every tower bell peal that has been rung. Its record of peals at St Laurence runs from 1722.
Stroud Local History Society
Stroud Local History Society is the local history society for Stroud.
Stroud Local History Society is the local history society for Stroud.
