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Heanor & District Local History Society



Heanor St Lawrence

The Domesday book of 1086 records a church at Heanor. Nothing is known of the earliest church in the town, but the large church situated at one corner of the Market Place dates from the fifteenth century. The mediaeval chancel and nave of this building was demolished in 1868, but the tower was left intact. This Victorian rebuilding couldn't have been too good a job, as, in 1981, another major rebuild took place, and again only the tower was left as before.

St. Lawrence's Church prior to the demolition of the mediaeval nave and chancel in 1868.

The dedication of the church to St. Lawrence causes some confusion, as it seems clear that at some stage it was dedicated to St. Michael. The list of rectors and vicars below is principally taken from "Notes on the Churches of Derbyshire" by J. Charles Cox, published in 1879. Cox states that the church is dedicated to St. Michael, but is aware of it being referred to as St. Lawrence's too - he states that this is a mistake in a recent directory, but this was not the case. He categorically says that it was Heanor St Michael in the sixteenth century. When the change to the dedication actually took place is unknown.

From the 13th century, the church was under the patronage of the de Greys of Codnor Castle.  It was transferred to the Abbey of Dale in 1478, until the dissolution, following which it reverted to the crown.


Rectors and Vicars of Heanor 1298 to 2004


Rectors


1298

Eudo de Derby

Patron - Sir Henry de Grey

1304

Roger de Shutton

Patron - Sir Henry de Grey

1320

John de Shiringham

Patron - Sir Richard de Grey de Codnor

1346

Gilbert de Grey

Patron - Richard de Wylloughby

1348

Nicholas de Grey

Patron - Sir John de Grey de Codnor

1349

Roger Sauseman

Patron - Sir John de Grey de Codnor

1370

Ralph de Barton

Patron - Sir John de Grey de Codnor

1385

Roger de Cherlton

Patron - John, Lord de Grey de Codnor

1434

William Thrumpton

Patron - Henry, Lord de Grey

1435

William Wethurby

(rector of Morley)

1440

John Fowler

Patron - Henry, Lord de Grey


Vicars


1475

William Tykhull

Patron - Abbot of Dale

1477

John Middleton


1485

Richard Nottingham

(Canon of Dale)

1491

William Cutt


c.1535

Oliver Pyggen


1547

Richard Arnolde

Patron - Robert Cooke de Little Hallam

1565

Laurence Brookes

Patron - the Queen

1592

William Ashby


1633

Josias Hawksworth

Patron - the King

1650

Samuel Wright

Parliamentary Commission

1664

James Rathbone


1669

George Westwood


1698

Samuel Lees

Patron - the King

1737

William Clarke

Patron - the King

1774

William Gould

(died in 1788 after being kicked by his horse at Eastwood, after hunting)

1788

John Thompson

Patron - the King

1821

Richard Whinfield

Patron - the King


Rectors


1866

Frederick Corfield

Patrons - Francis Wright and others

1879

Conyngham William George Corfield


1886

Claud Evelyn Lacy Corfield


1911

Ashley Tregoning Corfield



Vicars


1917

Herbert Gilgrist


1933

Douglas Gerard Smith


1946

Stephen Robert Futers


1958

Harry Benjamin Roberts


1970

John Goodwin


1975

Ron McMullen


1989

Cedric Blakey


1998

Ian Pallett



Priests in Charge


2004

Dan Pattimore


2014

Vacant





From 1866 to 1917, the Corfield family dominated the church at Heanor. The stained-glass window above shows the former east window at St Lawrence’s, placed in memory of Frederick Corfield in 1883. The lower photograph shows two of Frederick’s children, Claud Corfield and Ashley Corfield - this was taken in 1911, when Claud had moved to Taunton.