In 2014 the Chancel roof was repaired and re-leaded, together with restoration of a number of the pinnacles on that roof. Whilst the work was in progress, a number of guided tours to the roof were offered, which provided a fascinating alternative view of the building.

At the outset of the Vision Project, with all the lights in the Church switched on, the electricity consumption was 40 kW, a totally unsustainable figure. In 2015 all the lights were replaced by LED units, resulting in an 85% reduction in electricity consumption as well as a warmer colour of lighting within the building. In particular additional lighting has been provided above the nave dais. This means better lighting for the musicians who use that area for typically more than 30 concerts each year.

Heating a large mediaeval building is always a challenge. The original coke-fuelled boiler was designed to ensure that during winter the temperature did not fall below 3°C! Having a building that is sufficiently warm is beneficial not only for the users of the building (worshippers, visitors and all those attending the myriad of events that St Laurence’s hosts) but also for the building itself and the long-term condition of the Snetzler organ and Steinway piano. As part of the Vision project it had been hoped that biomass as a fuel might have been possible. However, withdrawal of government support meant that such an approach would not be financially viable. Instead, three (domestic-sized) gas boilers have been installed, with two of the three in use at any one time. At one stage it had been thought that wet, underfloor heating might have been required in the nave. However, the Victorian cast iron pipes and radiators (with a few new minor additions) have proved to be effective in enabling a temperature of 16°C to be achieved throughout the nave. For events, it is possible to raise the temperature to 18°C.

In 2020 a new sound system was introduced, replacing one that was largely dysfunctional. This is an improvement welcomed by many of our community.  Once funding becomes available, it is intended that the sound system should be further upgraded.

The prime requirement of seating in a re-ordered St Laurence’s Church is that it should meet the needs of the 21^st century. In doing so, there has been the need to take care to ensure that the solution proposed demonstrates clear and convincing evidence of achieving public benefit that outweighs any harm arising from the loss of the 19^th century seating scheme. Over the duration of the Vision Project, all of the pews have been removed, with the exception of a few of particular distinction that have been retained at the west end of the Church as exemplars of the Victorian re-ordering. The last of those in the nave were removed and sold (the wood being recycled and repurposed) in 2018. Given that this was potentially the most contentious ingredient of change within the building, extensive consultation took place before the final decision regarding their replacement was taken. Removal of the pews enabled the removal of their raised plinths, finally creating a flat, step-free area over the whole nave and aisles.

Having considered the range of possible solutions for replacement seating, the Theo chair was chosen, satisfying the requirements of functionality in a manner that is aesthetically acceptable as well as being cost-effective. The Theo chair, strongly endorsed by the Church of England is the one that is very widely adopted by Cathedrals and Major Churches across the country.

This seating offers a range of advantages. First, it provides a greater degree of “openness” as compared to pews, making it easier to “read” the historic beauty of St Laurence’s architecture. Moreover, the choice of a chair in a light oak finish lightens what with the 19^th century pews had been a comparatively dark church interior.

Individual chairs offer a degree of comfort that for most people is greater than for any pew – a qualification to this statement is that everyone is a different shape and hence perceptions of comfort will not be uniform!

A single chair weighs just 6.5 kg and a single stack of 40 chairs on a trolley occupies a footprint of less than 0.5 sq m with a height of 1.7 m. Hence it is comparatively easy to change the seating in what is very much a multi-use building. The flexibility offered means that a much wider range of events can now take place within the Church, whether it be, for example, a concert in the round or a clear nave for a ceilidh! Moreover, in the case of a wheelchair or mobility scooter user, one or two chairs (as appropriate) can be removed and the wheelchair or mobility scooter slotted into this space. In this way the disabled user is positioned in the main body of the seating for the event, rather than as previously with pews having to be tucked away adjacent to a pillar. A similar benefit applies to persons accompanied by young children (e.g. in a buggy) where a chair can be readily replaced by that buggy.

In the longer term it may be possible to completely replace the nave floor using an appropriate stone (something which, for example,  has comparatively recently been undertaken in Manchester Cathedral with great success). For the time being, with the pews having been removed, the pew plinths which were 100 mm high have been taken down and the necessary repairs undertaken such that the nave now benefits from a level wood and Victorian tile floor.

Each year there are always some repairs that need to be carried out to the exterior stonework of the building, particularly given the ravages that the weather brings about to a structure built of sandstone. So there are regular projects to replace or reface specific pieces of stonework as well as regular defrassing (effectively brushing off loose stonework). Associated with this have been regular minor repairs to lead seals around windows etc. The result of this regular maintenance and minor works is a building which is almost watertight, something that has eluded us for a very long time. (The only exception is when a gale force wind blows from a particular direction which results in a very minor ingress of water.)

Music is a central feature of St Laurence’s with The Space at St Laurence, as it is branded, now hosting typically more than 30 concerts each year. Securing a concert piano has been essential in enhancing the attractiveness of the venue. The Steinway model D which was bought in 2018 has given us an ability to attract the finest pianists, both international stars such as Charles Owen and Joanna McGregor as well as young performers including outstanding graduates of the musical conservatoires. This 100 year-old instrument has been totally rebuilt, such that it is now almost as new. It will be used extensively in the first Ludlow Piano Festival taking place in May this year, where The Space at St Laurence will be the venue for six recitals.

St Laurence’s has benefited from the presence of a small bookstall/shop for more than 40 years, located in the north west corner of the church. However, in 2020 this was replaced by a purpose built shop which is attractively designed and stocks a wide range of merchandise to satisfy every taste. Moreover, being located adjacent to the south door it attracts a much greater footfall than the one that it has replaced. All of the profits from the shop go to the church in support of its outreach work in the community.

August 2022 saw the opening of the Icon Coffee Shop in the north west corner of the church. Selling drinks, pastries, cakes and soup or quiche this provides a welcome addition to the community and mission facilities that St Laurence’s now offers (helping to make St Laurence’s the centre of the community just as it was in mediaeval times). Many local people now come in who had never previously entered the building. During the summer months, tables are available outside the west door.