W. Woods, who had submitted a price of £3000. By the time the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Patrick Moran on 17 March 1891 the walls were at almost at their full height. The completed brick Gothic church with a belfry of Oamaru stone with seating for about 600 worshippers was officially opened by Bishop Moran on 6 January 1892. The six bay nave of the brick church is long by wide while the transept was long by wide. A convent for the Dominican nuns, was later constructed directly to the south of the Church and opened on Sunday 3 February 1893. In 1902, a Presbytery was constructed to the east, adjacent to the church. To protect the decaying bricks and mortar the church was roughcast in 1926. By the 1990s the church needed significant repairs, which were undertaken in 1995. The Presbytery is still owned by the Church, but is now rental accommodation. Education Lawrence Area School is a co-educational state composite school for Year 1 to 13 students, with a roll of as of . It was a high school until the 1960s, when it became an area school catering to primary pupils as well. It also provides secondary education for students from Waitahuna School. There were other primary schools previously in Lawrence. Blue Spur School closed some time in the 1930s or 40s; Forsythe School closed in the 1960s; and St Patrick's School closed at the end of 1980, leaving Lawrence Area School as the sole remaining school in Lawrence. Notable residents Archibald Durward FRSE (1902–1964) spent his youth here. He was the son of the local minister Rev Peter C. Durward. Frank Mitchinson (1884–1978) rugby union player. Ella Spicer (1876–1958), painter. Jack Williams (1918-1975), Member of Parliament. David Wilson, the 14th Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives (2015 - current), spent his childhood in Lawrence. References Further reading External links Lawrence community profile - 2001 census data Populated places in Otago Otago Gold Rush Clutha District