Church of St Leonard, Bledington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Leonard |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Designated | 25 August 1960 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bledington |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Leonard is an old church in Bledington, a village in Gloucestershire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was first built way back in the 12th century, which makes it very old! It's so important that it's a special building called a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its history and beauty.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The Church of St Leonard was built in the 12th century. It was then greatly rebuilt in the late 15th century. Even so, it still has some older parts. A special feature is the painted glass from the 15th century that you can still see in some windows.
Early Days of the Church
The first time we hear about a church in Bledington was in 1175. This was in a document from Pope Alexander III. He confirmed that Winchcombe Abbey owned all its churches, including this one. The east and west walls of the main part of the church, called the nave, are thought to be from this very early time.
Big Changes in the 15th Century
Most of the church was rebuilt in the late 1400s. During this time, the roof of the nave was made higher. They also added a clerestory, which is a row of windows high up on the walls. New windows were put in the nave and the side aisle. Many of these new windows were square-shaped.
Some windows have special stone brackets where statues might have stood. In 1548, a ruler named Somerset ordered that all statues and images should be taken out of churches. By 1650, St Leonard's had lost its rood screen and window statues.
Hidden Art and Later Repairs
Today, you can still see some hidden remains of older wall decorations. On the west wall of the chancel, there's a pattern of rosettes and heart shapes from the 14th century. On the east wall of the nave, you can see a black outline of a crowned female saint with long hair.
By the mid-1800s, the church was in poor condition. It was repaired in 1881 and again around 1923. The church pews were replaced in 1904. However, some beautiful 15th-century bench ends with carved designs were kept.
The Church Today
The church serves both Bledington and a nearby village called Foscot. It is part of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Gloucester.
Exploring the Church's Design
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The Church of St Leonard is built from stone. Its roofs are made of lead and special Cotswold stone. The church has a chancel (the area around the altar) with a small bell-cot on top. It also has a clerestoried nave (the main part of the church), a south aisle, a south porch, and a west tower with battlements (like a castle wall).
Key Parts and Features
The chancel, the main arches in the nave, and the south porch were built in the 13th century. Some new windows were added in the 14th century. Later, a three-story tower was built. The west wall of the nave forms the base of this tower.
There are five bells from the 17th century and one bell from 1811. One bell, made in 1639, has a special message: We are the bells of Bledington and Charles is our King.
The Famous Stained Glass
The eight windows on the north wall of the nave and a window in the chancel were filled with painted glass. This glass still survives today. Some parts are fragments put back together, but others are almost complete pictures. It's thought that a famous glazier named John Prudde might have made this glass. He also made similar windows for the Beauchamp chapel in Warwick. You can still see some names and dates, like 1470, on the glass.
Inside the Church
The font, which is used for baptisms, is shaped like a tub and dates back to the 12th century. The communion rails and the altar table are from the 17th century. Next to the pulpit, which is from the 20th century, there is an old wrought-iron stand that once held an hourglass.
Outside in the churchyard, there is a war memorial dedicated to soldiers from the village.
