Saturday, 14 April 2018

St Leonard Watlington


This is one church that has been on my list for a while and I finally got to visit it after an aborted previous attempt when I found that a Christening was taking place & I thought it was rude to intrude. Watlington is a very old town dating back to at least the 6th century the church is no less so and here is the history I found on Wikipedia
"The oldest parts of the Church of England parish church of St Leonard are Norman, including a diapered tympanum that was over the north door until this was dismantled for the building of the north aisle. The church was extensively rebuilt in the 14th century, and the arcade of the south aisle survives from this period. The south chapel is 15th century, built for Maud Warner as a memorial for her husband Richard, a woolman. The tower is also Mediaeval. A few Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic windows survive, but in the 1870s some were moved to different positions within the church.
In 1763 Edward Horne, a local landowner, obtained permission to build a burial vault east of the Warner chapel and south of the chancel. In 1877 the architects H.J. Tollit and Edwin Dolby restored St Leonard's. The church is a Grade II* listed building.
The west tower had a ring of six bells until 1909, when two recently cast ones were hung and increased it to eight. Henry I Knight of Reading, Berkshire cast the fourth bell in 1587. Ellis I Knight cast the sixth bell in 1635. Henry II Knight cast the third and fifth bells in 1663. Charles and John Rudhall of Gloucester cast the seventh bell in 1785. Mears and Stainbank of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry cast the tenor bell in 1869 and the treble and second bells in 1905.
St Leonard's parish is now part of the Benefice of Icknield, along with the parishes of Britwell Salome, Pyrton and Swyncombe."

I have decided to show this in two parts as the churchyard and cemetery were quite large so I will show that next week 





St Leonard's church from outside the Lychgate.

Left the bell tower







You can see looking at the tower the church  has both North & South Aisles













Here on the East end of  the South aisle you cans see a chapel has been added




slightly larger than the aisle




The east end of the church




Heading around to the North side




Walk along the South side and you can see some interesting Gargoyles














Do like this Dragon one





This old man looks like he is peering at something




But this fellow holding his head has to be the best. I was told to look for him after going in the church
Right the church clock showing quarter past eleven










So inside for a look around with the nave the fist part to look in



You can see the pews have been removed from the church making it a more useable space
The altar and chancel window
The altar screen with superb decoration  

Looking up at the magnificent stained glass window




Looking back out of the chancel to the nave.
Right the pulpit


and the usual view you an see from it













At the back you can see this nice font that looks a little out of place for the church and was proably added in Victorian times 







The South aisle and the Horne chapel,












The altar in the chapel and the stained glass window behind







In the north aisle you can see the Roll of honour for Watlington











It is a beautiful piece of work
with the fallen from the second world war at the bottom







If you walk around the church you can see some nice stained glass windows










This one is in the West end








The other you can see along the aisles











There are also quite a few memorials around the church

One to the Tilson family






You can also see what looks like to relics of the churches history on display









Along with the odd church brass







The Church banner and a few more memorials













Flowers on display in the Horne chapel with their memorials behind




Another church brass and memorials




Memorials to the Wiggins family






An eagle lectern  and the church organ which is in the chancel










This may well have had an effigy in it at one time







Door in the wall and some of the kneelers on one of the remaining pews









A rood hangs from the ceiling






and if you look around in the South Aisle you can see some green men











and other decoration










Floral display near the altar

I will leave you with this display from the Christening 
Do have a wonderful weekend

6 comments:

Jim said...

Terrific shots.

Tom said...

...Bill, once again you have found a beauty. I like the gate and all the wonderful details, both inside and out.

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

Hello Bill,
on a Sunday spring morning!
A beautiful church, great architecture and great photos as always.
Wow, have beautiful weather this day.

Blessed day:)
Lucja

Linda said...

Love the gargoyles! The interior is lovely.

Elaine said...

That really is a fancy altar screen. I like the fact that they have removed the pews, it really adds to the impression that this is a well-loved and well-used church. It is much larger than many of the ones around here. Thank you for the tour.

George N. Parks said...

Love the guy holding his head! So whimsical!