St. Leonard's page 5.htm

St. Leonard's

At the west end of the nave, again under the carpet, is another memorial brass to Thomas Hay dock and his family, inscribed 1612. Thomas is depicted wearing armour, and there are two shields above bearing the arms of Elrington and Hay dock, and of Ernie and Haydock. The inscription below reads rather ominously, 'AS Y AR SO HAVE I BINE, AS I AM SO SHALL YOU BEE.' Beneath the inscription are two more figures of kneeling ladies.

Next to the Haydock brasses is a black marble slab bearing an inscription to Lady Susanna Ernie, who died in 1669, but the rest of the inscription is obscured by the heating system.

The Potenger Memorial

This fine monument is now situated on the north wall opposite the doorway. It was restored and moved to its present position in 1999, and at the same time a beautiful inscription by Mr Clive Moore giving a translation and explanation was placed by the side. The marble tablet is the work of Peter Schleemakers, an eminent 18th century sculptor, and shows two cherub's heads to the right and left, and one at the foot. Schleemakers came from Antwerp, but lived most of his life in England. He is noted for his memorial to William Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey.
Philadelphia Potenger was a member of the Ernie family who inherited the nearby Bury town estate in the 17th century. Her arms appear on the right of the shield at the top of the memorial. The arms of Potenger on the left passed down through the line of Bingham of Dorset and are still quartered by the Earls of Lucan.

The Tower

Like many churches, St Leonard's has a tower, which was added in the 15th century. It points upwards, reminding us that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe. Those who designed it want us to lift our hearts in worship, thanksgiving and prayer.

The entrance to the base of the tower is through a door in the 17th century carved oak screen. This has balusters and is surmounted by a carving cut from a block of solid oak. The screen was moved from the entrance to the chancel to its present position during the Victorian restoration.

carved oak screen

The tower is perpendicular in style and outside the west doorway has an ogee arch with Tudor rose decoration in the spandrels. The ancient door has a massive wooden lock with an iron key to match but is no longer opened. The tower is surmounted by a balustrade and rainwater is discharged through gargoyles at the corners.

The tower

There is now a peal of 8 bells, two treble bells having been cast on 21st June 2002 at the Whitechapel bell foundry. These were cast in memory of Walter Trueman, who was for many years the tower captain, and May Naylor, who was a long-standing member of the choir and whose family were bell-ringers at St Leonard's. The other six bells were re-cast and re-hung in the early part of the last century, but in 1997 the bell frame was found to be unsafe. A new frame was made by Nicholsons of Bridport in Dorset in 2002. The bells are now rung from a new first floor just below the west window.

The Churchyard

This is now closed to new burials and is maintained by the parish council. It contains a number of interesting tombs. At the west end of the church is that of Thomas and Caroline Plummer of Holdcroft House, dating from 1870. Nearby is a row of table tombs belonging to the Akermans. These have typical carvings of the late 18l or early 19th century and include a winged cherub's head, a girl standing by an urn on a pedestal, and a girl holding flowers by an urn. On the north side of the church near the vestry is the grade 2 listed Robert Litton tomb which has rebated corners with a decoration of husks, fluting and tendrils on the panel.

Tomb of Thomas and Caroline Plummer of Holdcroft House

In the spring the churchyard has primroses, snowdrops and daffodils and is an absolute joy. It all adds to the charm of this lovely and peaceful church.

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