St Leonard's Church, Sutton Veny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Leonard's Church |
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| Location | Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England |
| Built | 12th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Church of St. Leonard | |
| Designated | 11 September 1968 |
| Reference no. | 1036423 |
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St Leonard's Church is a very old church in a place called Sutton Veny, England. It was built way back in the 12th century! Today, it's looked after by a group called the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps take care of old churches that are no longer used for regular services. The church is also a "Grade II listed building." This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected.
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St Leonard's Church: A Historic Building
St Leonard's Church in Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, is a very old building. It was first built in the 12th century. Over the years, it was changed and updated in the 13th and 16th centuries. A big repair project happened in 1831.
Why a New Church Was Built
The church was built in a low, damp area. This caused the ground to sink, damaging the building. Workers added strong supports called buttresses in the 14th and 15th centuries to help. But by 1866, the damage was too much. People decided to build a brand new church instead.
The new church was named after St John the Evangelist. It was designed by an architect named John Loughborough Pearson. This new church was built on higher ground, about 700 meters away. It opened in 1868.
What Remains of the Old Church
Today, only one part of the old St Leonard's Church is still in good shape. This part is called the chancel. It was used as a special chapel for funerals. Inside the chancel, you can find old wooden boards and a bell. There's also a font, which is a basin used for baptisms. You can also see memorials on the walls.
The other parts of the church, like the main hall (nave) and the side sections (transepts), are now just ruins. Among these ruins, you can still see a beautiful doorway from the 12th century. It might have been moved from its original spot.
The Ancient Yew Trees
South-east of the church, there are two very old yew trees. One of them is mostly decayed now. But its trunk is still very wide, about 14 feet and 10 inches around! We don't know how big it was when the tree was healthy.
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