Places to go
Parish churches hold more surprises than you might think. Get out a see some with our suggested places to visit.
Church of St Thomas the Apostle
This church has a colourful history – David Hartley, leader of a conterfeiting gang, was hanged in 1770 for killing exciseman William Deighton, and is buried in the old graveyard. American poet Sylvia Plath, who committed suicide in 1963, is buried in the new graveyard.
Address: Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Heptonstall
St Lawrence Church
The Saxon church was discovered by chance. After the use of the building as a church stopped, it was converted for secular use. The nave had been used as a school since 1715 and the chancel was used as a private cottage. Because of the Saxon tradition of building tall churches, it was possible to divide the building horizontally and add an upper storey for living space. The chancel was divided into three storeys!
In 1871 the church was bought and recognised as an ancient monument. It was rededicated to St Laurence, reconsecrated and opened to the public. It remains one of the gems of Anglo-Saxon architecture and is well worth the visit.
Address: St Lawrence Church, Bradford-on-Avon
