Saint Lawrence was a deacon of the church in Rome. In the year 258 he was martyred for his faith by being roasted on a gridiron. He was executed because he refused to worship the pagan gods. When ordered to give up the treasure of his church in Rome, he presented all the local sick and poor, saying 'Here is the church's treasure'.
Because of the nature of his martyrdom Saint Lawrence's attribute is a gridiron.