St Leonard's Church, Berwick St Leonard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Leonard's Church |
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| Location | Berwick St Leonard, Wiltshire, England |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St. Leonard | |
| Designated | 6 January 1966 |
| Reference no. | 1318783 |
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St Leonard's Church is a very old church located in a small village called Berwick St Leonard, in Wiltshire, England. It was first built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! Today, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, an organization that helps protect historic churches. It's also recognized as a special Grade II* listed building. This means it's considered a very important historical building in England. The church was officially closed in 1973 and given to the Trust in 1976.
History of St Leonard's Church
For a long time, in the 12th century, the land where the church stands belonged to Shaftesbury Abbey. People from Berwick St Leonard even had to take their loved ones to Tisbury for burial because their village didn't have its own burial ground.
Later, different people owned the right to choose the church's priest. In the early 1800s, there was even a disagreement about who had this right between two men, John Benett and John Maclntyre.
By the 1800s, the church building was starting to fall apart. So, in 1860, it was rebuilt. The outside of the church didn't change much, thanks to Alfred Morrison who paid for the work. The church finally closed its doors in 1966.
What the Church Looks Like
This small church was built using flint and limestone, which are common building materials from the 12th century. The main part of the church, called the nave, is about 33 feet long and 16 feet wide. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, is a bit smaller.
You enter the church through a small, two-part tower on the south side. This tower was added in the 14th century and is held up by strong diagonal supports called buttresses. Inside the tower are two old bells, one from 1725 and another from 1766. The church roof has a unique pattern that looks like fish scales!
Inside, you can see old monuments, including one for George Howe, who passed away in 1647, and his six children. There's also a round stone font with a brass cover, which is used for baptisms. You can also spot a stone carving of the Lamb of God above the south doorway. These features, including a blocked-up doorway on the north side, are from the Norman era, which was a very long time ago!
Church Connections
For many centuries, St Catherine's Church in Sedgehill, which is about six miles away, was connected to St Leonard's. It was like a smaller branch of the church until 1914, when Sedgehill became its own separate parish.
Later, in 1916, St Leonard's joined with the nearby church of Fonthill Bishop. Even though they shared a priest, they remained separate parishes until 1966. Today, the churches of Fonthill Bishop and Berwick St Leonard are part of a larger group of sixteen rural churches called the Nadder Valley team ministry.
See also
