Laughton-en-le-Morthen Churches
All Saints
The church of All Saints at Laughton-en-le-Morthen was the mother church to a considerable area. The Saxon church was a plain rectangular structure and it seems as if it was built in stone as some of the lower courses and the old doorway still remain from this time. This was quite unusual as the Saxons were not great builders in stone, preferring to use wood, so it indicates that the church was of importance. About 1190 rebuilding in Norman style began when a a north aisle was added. Some historians have the church along with the village badly damaged in 1322 during the Baron's War against Edward II; others think that the damage was minor. The church was rebuilt again c1377 and a 185ft tower and spire were added by the architect William of Wykeham. The Lady Chapel contains a pre-Reformation stone altar table which was found buried in the south aisle during the 19th century. Extensive alterations and repairs to the church were carried out in 1857 at the expense of AFB St Leger, the lord of the manor.
Parish registers go back to 1547 which makes them some of the earliest in England and prove that the vicar or the parish clerk was literate. Other reminders of bygone days still exist like the mounting block and water pump in front of the churchyard.
St John's
There is a second church in Laughton-en-le-Morthen, St John's Church. It is not generally open to the public. Located at the southern end of the village St John's was founded in the 12th Century and the present remains are mostly from the 13th Century, though windows and other portions date from the 15th Century. It originally served the parishes of Thropaham, Letwell and Gildingwells but is now included in the civil parish of Dinnington St John's.
St John's Laughton
Because of its architecturally significant features the church is a Grade 1 listing building and is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust.