Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester |
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Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester,
from the southeast |
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| OS grid reference | TM 013 247 |
| Location | Colchester, Essex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Friends of St Leonard at the Hythe |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Leonard |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 24 February 1950 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Closed | 1982 |
The Church of St Leonard at the Hythe is an old church in Hythe, Colchester, Essex, England. It's a redundant Anglican church, which means it's not used for regular church services anymore. However, it's a very important historical building. It is protected as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a building of special interest. The Churches Conservation Trust now looks after it. You can find the church on the north side of Hythe Hill, in the Hythe area of Colchester.
Discovering St Leonard's Church
For many years, St Leonard's was the main church for the port of Colchester. It has a long history, with parts of the building dating back to the 14th century. Over time, more sections were added and changed. For example, the beautiful wooden roof of the main part of the church, called the nave, was built in the early 16th century.
A Glimpse into History
The church played a small part in the English Civil War. During the Siege of Colchester, which happened in the 1640s, soldiers who supported the King (called Royalists or Cavaliers) hid inside the church. You can still see bullet holes in the church door from this time!
Later, in 1884, a big earthquake shook the area. The church's tower was damaged during this earthquake. After the earthquake, the top part of the tower had to be rebuilt.
Inside the Church
When you look inside, you'll see many features from the 19th and 20th centuries. These include the screens and other furnishings. There's also a large painting, called a mural, above the arch leading to the chancel, which was painted in 1901. The church also has lovely stained glass windows that show different saints.
Over hundreds of years, the church has needed many repairs. This was sometimes because the ground underneath it wasn't stable, or because of how it was built a long time ago. But thanks to ongoing care, this historic building remains standing today.
See also
