England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
York St Lawrence

The Parish

The parish of Sr Lawrence York is the southeastern-most parish within the city of York bordering the former rural areas which have been engulfed by the expansion of the city. York is an ancient city probably predating Roman times, albeit they made it their base in the north (Eboracum) which enabled it to become one of the most notable cities of England and one the largest in the north prior to the Industrial Revolution. York is located at the crossing of the Ouse where the A64 (Leeds to Scarborough road) meets the A19 (Selby to Thirsk) and marks also the meeting point of many significant Roman routes too. York's long history is too complex to document here and others have made a better job than I would do so you are recommended research widely. Briefly York became capital of the north of England, a major market centre for the produce of Yorkshire and a principal administrative centre both religious and secular. Today York has been somewhat overshadowed by Yorkshire's industrial towns but remains a vibrant commercial centre and a notable visitor attraction for its preserved history. Medieval York was divided into 23 tiny parishes and St Lawrence held one of the smaller populations, it would have supported just under 850 parishioners. The parish covered an area outside the centre of the city, a true suburb but like all ancient city parishes a generally small footprint. The Ouse drains through the city and reaches the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. St Lawrence parish is sited at around 15 metres above sea level with most of the medieval centre lying at or below 10 metres. In Domesday times York was a major centre and taxed on a value of 103 geld units, the city was held chiefly by the King, himself, with small portions held by the Archbishop of York and one Richard son of Herfast. St Lawrence parish was not specifically separately assessed.

The Church

St Lawrence's church stands to the south of Lawrence Street as the A1079 road (which links York with Market Weighton) head eastwards away from the city walls. The ancient medieval church was replaced in Victorian times by the present St Lawrence, the tower of that ancient church stands within the churchyard of its Victorian replacement, a typical hotch-potch of styles, 12th century basal stage, 13th century mid stages and 15th century top. The present St Lawrence was completed between 1881 & 1883 and is thus not the church in which these marriages took place. Today's church is a vast edifice with a grand towering western tower added in 1893 and apsidal chancel, all is in the newly re-fashionable Early English Gothic style. Like most urban churches this is one to visit on foot after first locating suitable parking. The church sits well back from the road with heavily tree-covered grounds facing the road, pathways lead to both east and west and provide the better viewpoints for what is a difficult church to gain acceptable views.