Church of St Laurence, Upminster

The Grade I listing was made on 7 January 1955 as list entry 1184679, under the statutory name 'Church of St Laurence'. The church was renovated in 1862-63 under W. Gibbs Bartleet and substantially rebuilt in 1928 by Sir Charles Nicholson, who restructured the interior and added new chapels. William Derham, rector of Upminster, used the church tower to make the first accurate measurement of the speed of sound; he is buried here and, at his own wish, no memorial marks the grave. The church holds monuments to the Branfills of Upminster Hall and the Esdailes of Gaynes, and six Second World War service personnel are commemorated in the churchyard. Upminster War Memorial, about 60 m east, is listed Grade II, NHLE 1433648, on 18 April 2016. Upminster station, served by the District line, the Liberty line and c2c, is about 400 m north-east.