Church of St Lawrence, Little Stanmore

St Lawrence’s stands in Little Stanmore, a quiet corner of the London Borough of Harrow. The church is Grade I listed and keeps a stone tower from about 1360, though most of the building was rebuilt in the 18th century. The wealthy James Brydges, later the first Duke of Chandos, paid for the new church and nearby Cannons house. He chose the architect John James, who worked on both projects until he was replaced by James Gibbs. The church reopened in 1716 and still shows Continental Baroque decoration rather than the usual English style.

Brydges kept a private gallery in the church for himself and his guests. He appointed John Theophilus Desaguliers, a noted engineer, as vicar and chaplain. The decorative painter Louis Laguerre worked on the interior, and the church later gained a Baroque mausoleum at its east end. The centrepiece is a monument by Grinling Gibbons to the first duke and his two wives, moved here in 1735. Gaetano Brunetti painted the walls of the mausoleum in matching style.

Handel lived at Cannons in 1717–18 and wrote the Chandos Anthems for services in this church. The organ, rebuilt in 1994 from the original 1716 parts, is thought to have been played by Handel. It still gives recitals today and has been recorded in his organ concertos. William Carter served as organist here from 1850 to 1854. The building’s rich decoration and musical history make it a notable place to visit.