E is on holiday and wanted to go to the caravan for a few days. We arrived last Wednesday - B wanted to do the click and collect on Thursday am instead of rushing off when we arrived so I decided to visit St Leonard's nearby and see what was flowering in the churchyard.
Lesser Celandine on the bank opposite the church,
Ground Ivy
Dog's Mercury
I visit St Leonard's a lot so apologies for repeating what some of you will have heard several times before!
St Leonard's is the third oldest church in Herefordshire and the nave is C11th and may even be pre-Conquest. It is constructed partly of tufa. The church was extended to the west in the C14th when the chancel was probably rebuilt. There were restorations to the church in 1878 and 1903. The bell turret may be medieval and the weatherboarding was added in 1903.
There were Primroses and Daisies scattered all over the churchyard.
A lovely display of daffodils at the rear of the church.
The open timber porch is partly C14th.
Although I visit the churchyard regularly I haven't been inside the church for a few years so I decided to have a look round.
Norman tub font which unfortunately has been replaced by this
rather unprepossessing one!
Looking along the nave towards the chancel.
This is a display of the old gear of a C13th church bell including elm head stock, nailed sheerbands, stock hoops, wooden chiming gear and pulley.
West Gallery
Memorials
Most fittings are from the restorations including the pulpit.
Chancel
Memorials also include C17th tablets for the Colles family.
Kneeler - I forgot to look in the pews to see if there were any more.
Piscina
East Window by Mayer and Co 1878
Daffodils on the verge by the farm opposite the church.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks)
Reference:
Buildings of England Herefordshire, by Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner Yale University Press.
6 comments:
It is a beautiful church both inside and out and the Spring flowers in the churchyard and along the verge are a delight. I haven't seen many Lesser Celandines this year, not as many as last year in the places we normally see them. Glad you had a few days away, it's a lovely time of year:)
Thanks so much Rosie - the church comes across as well loved and looked after. I've seen a lot of Lesser Celandine in Herefordshire but not as much locally in Warwickshire. We were lucky with the weather and it looks as though we might have a few more weeks of sunshine :)
Lots of Celendines hereabouts and I love to see them. An interesting little church. I got to see 3 in a day yesterday.
I am glad you had time to explore the church at your leisure. I too love exploring churches in great detail.
Thank you BB - I don't think I've ever managed more than 2 in a day!
Thank you Cherry Pie - it is good to be able to explore on your own without others waiting in the car!
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