St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth |
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Tower of St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth
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| OS grid reference | SO 716,933 |
| Location | Bridgnorth, Shropshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Leonard |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 18 July 1949 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Rickman F. J. Francis Slater and Carpenter |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1878 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, roofs of clay tiles |
St Leonard's Church is an old Anglican church in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. It is no longer used for regular church services. This means it is a "redundant church." It is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, which helps to save important old churches. The church is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very important historical building.
Contents
History of St Leonard's Church
The church you see today started being built in the 1100s. There was probably an even older church here before that. This is because some very old stone pieces from the Anglo-Saxon and Norman times were used in the church's walls.
Building the Church Over Time
- 1448: A tall tower was added to the church.
- 1646: During the Civil War, one side, called the Roundheads, stored their gunpowder in the church. A cannon shot hit the church, causing a big explosion. This destroyed parts of the church, including the north side and part of the south side.
- 1662: The main roof of the church was rebuilt. However, the damaged sides were not fully fixed at this time.
- 1826-1847: The area around the altar, called the chancel, was repaired by Thomas Rickman. It was fixed up again later by F. J. Francis.
- 1860s: A big rebuilding project started. Architects W. Slater and R. H. Carpenter changed the church's style. They rebuilt it in a "Geometrical" Gothic style.
- 1870-1873: The tower was largely rebuilt by Slater and Carpenter.
- 1878: A special eight-sided library was added to the north side of the church.
Becoming a Redundant Church
By the 1970s, the church tower was not safe. In 1976, St Leonard's Church was declared "redundant." This means it was no longer needed for regular church services. In 1980, the Churches Conservation Trust took over its care. They now look after the building so people can still visit and enjoy its history.
Architecture of St Leonard's
St Leonard's Church is built from local red sandstone. Its roofs are made of clay tiles.
Outside the Church
The church has a long main hall called a nave with side sections called aisles. It also has a chancel (the area near the altar) and the tower.
- The Tower: The tower has three main levels. It has strong corner supports called buttresses. There is a small, winding staircase tower on one side with a pointy top. The main entrance to the church is through a doorway in the tower. Above this door is a large window. In the middle of the tower, there is a statue of Saint Leonard in a special carved space. The top part of the tower has openings for bells. The very top of the tower has a decorative wall with eight pointy decorations called pinnacles.
- Windows: Most of the windows on the sides of the church have three sections. At the front of the nave, there is a doorway with two three-section windows above it. The chancel also has several windows, including a large one at the very end. There is also a special eight-sided library with its own roof and windows.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has rows of arches called arcades that separate the main hall from the side aisles.
- Pillars and Carvings: These arches rest on round pillars. The tops of the pillars, called capitals, are carved with plants and other designs. On the south side, one pillar has a carving of the "Expulsion from Eden" (a Bible story). Above it, in a round shape, is a carving of the "Annunciation to the shepherds."
- Roofs: The nave, south aisle, and chancel have special wooden roofs called "hammerbeam roofs." The north aisle has a different type of wooden roof. The base of the tower has a fancy arched ceiling.
- Floors: The main part of the church has red and black tiles. The chancel floor has decorative mosaics and tiles. The area around the altar has special patterned tiles.
- Walls: The walls in the nave and aisles are covered in a reddish-brown plaster. The walls in the tower and chancel are bare stone.
Church Furnishings and Art
- Font: The font (where baptisms happen) is eight-sided and made of marble. It has carved marble figures and a tall wooden cover with pointy decorations. The font was made in 1894 by Thomas Earp, and its cover was added in 1991.
- Pulpit: The wooden pulpit (where sermons are given) was made in 1862. It has carvings of plants and a round picture of Christ teaching his followers.
- Lectern: The wooden lectern (where readings are done) was made in 1929. It looks like an angel holding a trumpet.
- Reredos: The reredos (a screen behind the altar) was designed in 1882. It shows the "Crucifixion of Jesus" in the middle. On the sides, there are figures of four important church teachers.
- Chapel: At the east end of the south aisle, there is a small chapel. It has a special screen with a painting of Christ giving Holy Communion. There is also a copper cross and candlesticks from 1898.
Stained Glass and Memorials
Many of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were made by a company called Clayton and Bell.
- East Window: The large east window from 1876 shows scenes from a hymn called the "Te Deum." It is a memorial to Thomas Rowley, a headmaster.
- Other Windows: Other windows show saints, scenes about baptism, and important historical figures from the Church of England. Some windows in the chancel show the "Good Samaritan" and other Bible stories.
- Memorials: The church has several memorials to people who have died. These include stone monuments, brass plaques, and special cast iron slabs on the floor. There is also a wooden shrine from 1922 that remembers those from the parish who died in the First World War.
- Bells: The church has a set of eight bells. Five of them were made in 1681, and the other three were made later in the 1800s.
See also
