Notices & Information

Contacts and Numbers

The Church Wardens are:

  • Linda Barnett, Tel. 01676 523277
  • Jonathan Douglas, Tel. 01676 522455

Lay Reader:

  • Peter Wright, Tel. 01676 522414

Rector: Following the retirement of Revd. Michael Dawkins in June 2009 there is currently a vacancy. The Revd. Canon John Eardley, a retired priest, is assisting at St. Laurence during the vacancy, including taking some of the regular services each month.

Services

Our main service is at 10.30 every Sunday morning. The normal* pattern of services each month is:

1st Sunday: The congregations of St. Laurence and Meriden Methodist Churches meet to worship together at this service which takes place at the Meriden Methodist Church.

2nd Sunday: Holy Communion (following 'Order Two' -Book of Common Prayer) at St. Laurence Church.

3rd Sunday: Morning Prayer Service at St. Laurence Church. The congregations of St. Laurence and Meriden Methodist Churches meet to worship together at this service which takes place at St. Laurence Church. 

4th Sunday: Holy Communion (following 'Order One' - Common Worship) at St. Laurence Church.

5th Sunday: Morning Prayer with Songs of Praise at St. Laurence Church.

All these services begin at 10.30 a.m. Please do join us for worship; you can be assured that there is a warm welcome for you.
 
Along with our regular Sunday morning services throughout the year there are particular services at all the special seasonal times during the year including:
Harvest, Remembrance Sunday, All Saints, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, as well as Easter and Ascension. Advance information about these will be posted on this page of the website as they approach.

*On Ash Wednesday 22nd February at 7 p.m. there will be a special Holy Communion Service with Deposition of Ashes.
This marks the start of Lent and there will also be a:-

Lent Bible Study Course beginning in church on Tuesday 28th February at 7 p.m and continuing on each Monday evening therefafter until Monday 12th March.  All are welcome.

Information about services for March, Holy Week and Easter will be posted on this page shortly but information about all services and events can be obtained by 'phoning the contact numbers at the top of this page.   

Church open visiting

It was good to have welcomed so many visitors to church, in addition to the regular services and other times, while the church was again open for visiting on Sunday afternoons from Spring through Autumn last year.  We look forward to doing this again from the Spring of this year.

The Stained Glass Windows of St. Laurence Church
 
In the Gallery pages of this website you will find photographs and information about these beautiful and distinctive windows which are now the subject of a specially published 70-page book.

Containing nearly 40 distinctively taken coloured photographs and accompanying text, the book has been compiled by the Revd. Michael H. Dawkins, Rector of the Parish 1985 to 2009.

The book is available at £10 per copy (plus posting and package).  Copies can be obtained:
* at the Centre Charity Shop on The Green, Meriden, nr. Coventry (tel: 01676 523050)
* at the Library on Meriden Green (tel: 01676 522717 for opening hours)
*at the Church (see the Notices and Information page for services and other times the church is open)
* via the Churchwardens (tel: 01676 523277 or 01676 522455)
*via the Revd. Dawkins (tel: 01384 893299 or e-mail mhdawkins@aol.com)

The Bishop of Coventry, in his foreword to the book, writes: "This is a beautiful book about some beautiful windows in a beautiful church.  And the windows tell the most beautiful story ever known - the story of the love of God knows no bounds.  As you savour their wonderful colours, exquisite detail and majestic images, and as you muse on the profound words that accompany them, let the story of God's immense love touch the story of your life to bring you hope and joy, truth and peace....(this is a) precious book....these glorious windows shine with the light of Christ. "

Half the proceeds of the sale of each copy will go towards the essential restoration of the church described on this website.

Enquiries for Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals 

Please contact the Churchwardens on 01676 523277 or 01676 522455 or if not they are available contact 01676 522414

Baptisms:  We welcome enquiries and we're delighted if you're thinking of baptism for your child (or for yourself). Baptism of children is sometimes called 'christening' but there's no difference, these are two names for the same thing.  Children are precious to parents and precious to God. In baptism parents are thanking God for the life of their child, promising to raise him or her to know that God loves them, and to help them to follow Jesus as a member of the Church.  As a parent you are making a decision to start your child on the journey of faith and asking for the Church's support.

To help you prepare for a baptism - and as part of it - we will ask you to first of all come to one of our weekly Sunday morning services beforehand - on the fourth Sunday of a month.  This particular service will have a 'baptism' theme and will be followed by an informal talk with you in church about baptism and what this will mean for your child and you. There will probably be other parents and children with you as well (and a cup of tea or coffee) and this will be a chance to discuss any questions you may have. 

You will then be able to decide how you want to proceeed and make the formal arrangements with us, including a date for the baptism.

For you and your child this preparation will be an essential part and parcel of the baptism, along with the baptism service itself (which will take place on the date agreed with you).

We trust that this will help make the whole baptism experience and the promises you will make meaningful, enriching and lasting  for you and your child.

In the first instance please contact one of the churchwardens.  If you are interested to explore baptism for yourself as an adult we will be delighted to discuss this with you at any time.

Marriages: You're welcome to marry in church whatever your beliefs, whether or not you're baptised and whether or not you go to church, and we welcome enquiries for weddings at this ancient church of St. Laurence in its beautiful setting. 

A banns application is collected from one of the Churchwardens, filled in and returned.  The banns are called on three consecutive Sundays during three months before the wedding; (if one of the couple lives in another parish a banns application form is collected from that parish and filled in.  Later, that parish will issue a banns Certificate to be brought to the Churchwardens in Meriden). 

Further information on marrying in the Church of England can be found at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings but please do contact the Churchwardens on 01676 523277 or 01676 522455 or if they are not available contact 01676 522414.

Please do not book receptions without checking on the availability of the church. 

Funerals: Please contact the  Churchwardens in the first instance on 01676 523277 or 01676 522455 or if they are not available contact the Lay Reader on 01676 522414.

We will support you and try to help you understand the deeply right and sacred nature of these things.