St Lawrence Church, Towcester (Towcester)

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The church is dedicated to St Lawrence, a Roman saint, who was a deacon of the church in Rome in the third century. It is probable that a church has stood here from at least A. D. 921 when King Edward the Elder (899-924), son of Alfred the Great, fortified the town as one of a series of border strongholds against the Danes, who occupied the country to the north east of Watling Street. Towcester church is mentioned as one of four churches given by William the Conqueror in 1142 to the Abbey of Fontanelle in Normandy.

The church has a 90 foot perpendicular west tower, which was rebuilt or added to in 1480-85 using brown ironstone. The present chancel is of the 13th century. In 1872 the new chancel arch was inserted. Two decorated 12th century shafts have been incorporated into either side of the present 19th century chancel arch.