| St. Leonard's
|
| St. Leonard's, page 2 |
| St Leonard |
| Nothing is known for certain about St Leonard, to whom the church is dedicated. He is said to have been an early 6th century French nobleman, who became a hermit when he converted to Christianity. St Leonard took a particular interest in prisoners (hence the chains in his hand in the window and banner), and is once reputed to have saved the queen's life with prayer. A grateful king granted him the privilege of giving liberty to prisoners and he became their patron saint. He is commemorated on November 6th. |
 |
St
Leonard |
 |
St
Leonard banner |
| The South Aisle |
| On your left
as you enter the church is the old oak communion table. This was rescued
early in the last century, and is Jacobean. It bears the inscription,
'This God's board at which several generations have worshipped was
replaced within the walls AD 1902'. Above this table is a stained
glass window depicting St George and the dragon. It is in memory of Eden Wyn Robeson (d.1931), only son of Revd Robeson, a former rector. |
 |
| Old oak communion table |
 |
St
George and the Dragon |
| On the opposite side of the doorway is the village bier. This bears a brass plate stating that it was 'presented to the parishes of St Leonard and St Andrew in the coronation year of King George and Queen Mary, AD 1911.' The bier was rescued by Mr Gordon Ockwell and given back to the village in 1996. It was made by the local blacksmith and wheelwright in premises next to the church. |
 |
village
bier |
| The south aisle is separated from the nave by a series of four bays with circular piers, circular abaci and double chamfered arches dating from the late 131 century. The south window next to the doorway is original perpendicular and contains fragments of medieval stained glass found during the 1872 excavations. |
 |
| circular abaci and double chamfered arches |
| The central window in the south wall is Victorian and is apparently situated where the original south doorway would have been. It belongs to the 1872 restoration and contains stained glass, 'I am the Good Shepherd and am known of Mine', a memorial to Henry Hinder (d.1898), given by his niece Sarah Munday. |
 |
I
am the Good Shepherd |
| Page 3 |
Send mail to Postmaster@stmichaelshighworth.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site, or fill in the feedback form with your comments.