The Smallest Church

The little village of St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight, was long notable for its queer little church, "the smallest in the world." It was twenty-five feet long, eleven wide, and about as high as a tall man. Its walls are Saxon and very old. This church has given rise to a curious version of the proverbial saying, "Lazy Lawrence." In Hampshire, England (to which the Isle of Wight belongs), a lazy man is called an "Isle o' Wight man." This is accounted for, not that the islanders are lazy, but because they have a church dedicated to the "lazy Saint." The legend is that St. Lawrence was roasted on a gridiron. While his martyrdom was going on, he neither groaned, writhed nor turned over. "How great must be his faith." said a Christian present, "that he can be so calm!" "Not so", replied the pagan executioner; "he's too lazy to turn over."

This Church of St. Lawrence had originally sittings for twelve people, but it has of late years received the addition of a recess chancel, so that it can no longer be called "the smallest church." In the village of Bon-church, which derives its name from a church dedicated to St. Boniface, is a little church about thirty feet long and twelve wide; it has seven pews and two galleries, and might possibly hold twenty people. It is about eight centuries old, and is very elegant within. The style is Norman, the ceiling circular, and the chancel separated from the body of the building by a low stone partition. The church is still used for public worship, the larger part of the congregation being seated out of doors, under awnings, and hearing through the doors and windows.

There is no doubt that these small churches scattered over Great Britain and Ireland were originally built as family chapels or chantries. From about the year 1200 A. D., chantries began to be built, each only large enough for one altar, at which a priest could say masses for the soul of its builder; this accounts for their diminutive proportions.