Lawrence House – St Laurence Church

Lawrence House – St Laurence Church

The original Church of St Laurence was built in 1887 and demolished in 1968 alongside the neighbouring Town Hall. On its site, now stands Lawrence House, which is home to a number of departments of Lewisham Council. The New Church of St Laurence was established on Bromley Road, not far from the original site.

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- Photos courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photos courtesy of Lewisham Archive
- Photos courtesy of Lewisham Archive
The grand Victorian Gothic Church of St Laurence Lewisham stood beside the equally grand Gothic Town Hall. Built out of Bracknell brick and Corsham Stone, it was described by the architect H. Roumieu Gough, as Early English, with a squat square tower topped by a slated pyramid. Damaged during the War and never adequately repaired it was demolished in 1968, alongside the Town Hall, to make way for a road-widening project.

1887-1968 St. Laurence Chuch

Oral history of Reverend Canon Charles
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The only part of the original old church that survives is the old bell, which still rings, in the new St Laurence Church.

1968 Demolition
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- Photo courtesy of St Laurence Church
- Photo courtesy of St Laurence Church
- Photo courtesy of St Laurence Church
- Photo courtesy of St Laurence Church
The light modern Church, built in the 1960s, is somewhat of a contrast to the dark and imposing design of its predecessor. The new church stands on an old bombsite on Bromley Road, very close to its original location. The Church today is alive and well and is home to an active congregation.

1968 The New St Laurence Church

Oral history of Reverend Canon Charles Pickstone
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Photos courtesy of Lewisham Archive

After the church was taken down, the space was temporarily used as a car park before Lawrence House was built in the 1969s. This modern building was built to make space for a number of local council offices when Deptford and Lewisham councils merged in 1965.

Due to an accidental misspelling, Lawrence House was inaccurately named after the preceding building St Laurence Church that occupied this site.

1969 Lawrence House
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St Laurence Church featured in many of the accounts and memories of Catford that made up the fabric of the script for Catford Tales. The real recording of the vicar of the New St. Laurence Church, remembering the Queen’s visit to Catford was the opening scene of the play.

2015 Catford Tales
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