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St. Lawrence's Church, Towcester - 19th century
Umbrella standUmbrella stand
Church boilerChurch boiler
In 1817 The Earl of Pomfret donated a handsome organ to the church which he had bought at a sale at Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire. Sadly it was damaged by fire in 1976 and at present is in the Victoria and Albert museum awaiting sufficient funds to allow it's restoration.

In 1836-37 the chancel, which had been an open space, was seated with west facing high box pews. This increased the seating capacity of the church to 1176 people, with 678 seats free [i.e.no charge made].

1872 witnessed a further restoration. The church floor was paved with encaustic tiles. The new chancel arch inserted and the high box pews removed and replaced by open oak benches arranged stallwise. [In the late 19th c. churches were changing the focus from the pulpit to the altar]. In 1883 excavations for underfloor heating ducts led to the discovery of two pavements under the south aisle of the church. This Roman herringbone flooring can still be viewed from the outside boiler house staircase, to the east of the south porch.

The richly decorated east window of the chancel, which had been donated in 1836 by Mrs. Sabin and John Lovell, was replaced in 1898 by a window to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.

The pews still retain their original brass umbrella stands.
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