10/08/2026
Today is St Laurence's Day.
Laurence was a Deacon (servant minister) and was arrested by the Roman Empire at a time when following Jesus was banned. His colleagues and the Pope were executed but Laurence was ordered to bring the treasures of the Church to the Governor.
He sold all the valuable objects and gave the money to those in need, then took the poor, the lame, the widows and the orphans and declared to the governor, "these are the treasures of the Church"
The governor ordered him to be burned to death on a grid iron over a fire.
Laurence reportedly said to the executioners "can you turn me over please, I'm done on this side"
So in addition to being the Patron Saint of People: those who work with open fires (cooks, bakers, brewers, textile cleaners, tanners), and those to whom fire means harm (librarians, archivists, miners, poor people), he is also the Patron Saint of comedians.
A true Saint whose care was for the poor!
Celebrating with St Laurence Church, Adwick Le Street and all the other Churches dedicated to St Laurence (or Lawrence as he is in one of our windows at Adwick) !