St Mary the Virgin, Stoneleigh

 

Leaving D picking blackberries in Stoneleigh a few days ago I wandered over to St Mary's church.

The original church was probably a wooden structure and it was rebuilt in the first half of the 12th century when Henry I granted the living to the monastery at nearby Kenilworth which continued until the Reformation.  Much remains of this building although there were extensive alterations in the 14th century in the "Decorated" style especially in the nave and Norman tower.  In the 15th century a belfry was added and in the 17th century a vestry was built by Thomas, the first Lord Leigh from nearby Stoneleigh Abbey. Under the vestry the Leigh family vault was constructed.  The vestry was "Stuart Gothic" in style complete with pinnacles.

On 22nd October 1643 during the Civil War the vicar was threated by Parliamentarian soldiers who had caused a disturbance in the church. They retired and then fired their pistols at the window in the hope of murdering the vicar!

The church is built of red sandstone which was quarried nearby.

One of the features I wanted to see again was the blocked North Nave door.

The tympanum shows two dragons (sadly very weathered) with their necks intertwined and each dragon is biting its own tail. Above in a small panel are two snakes also biting their tails. ie an ouroborus.

The church door looked well and truly locked so first I went to explore the churchyard. Lots of trees but it did look quite manicured although to be fair I did not explore all areas.

You may need to click on this photo to enlarge but its an interesting inscription. It has been moved from the south porch and is now inserted in a blocked doorway.

Note the pinnacles on what I assume is the vestry - they look rather out of place!!!!!

This memorial (not sure if it was meant to be a sundial at some stage?)  was dedicated to Edith Pridmore who died in 1923.

I did try the door but it was locked.

I briefly visited the church a few years ago when D and I were in Stoneleigh but the photos of the interior were really poor and I had hoped to get better ones.  The main features I wanted to see were the Norman font with carvings of the 12 Apostles, the Chancel Screen carvings particularly those of a snake and bird and the Leigh monuments. I am not sure if the church was closed due to thefts or the Pandemic? but I will check before I visit again to see if it is open.

Finally, a few photos that D took on our walk round. I have excluded most of the building pictures as they were similar to mine.

A rare photo of me!!!

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Photos of the church taken by me with the Pansonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and rest of photos taken by D with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera.

Reference:

Church guide to the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Stoneleigh-in-Arden.

Pevsner Buildings of England Warwickshire (latest edition).