St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Address:
St Leonards Close, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4EJ
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Opened by our team of wonderful volunteers subject to their availability, Monday to Saturday from 11am to 3pm. If the church is closed this will be due to an unexpected absence of one of our volunteer team. For further information please contact the Local Community Officer via email rmilton@thecct.org.uk
  • Originally a Norman church, St Leonard's was commandeered as Civil War ammunition store, and was blown it up in 1646. Rebuilding started in 1662, and extensive restoration took place in the mid-19th century.
  • The church is surrounded by an oval of charming houses, almost like a cathedral close.
  • The octagonal font carved by Thomas Earp (1894) represents ‘states of life’. The cover by Joseph Phillips; was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1910.
  • A carved depiction of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden from one of the capitals at St Leonard's.
  • The hexagonal oak pulpit on its high stone base was given in 1862 and includes a relief showing Christ preaching.
  • The chancel roof incorporates medieval timbers and rests on carved stone corbels, retrieved from the earlier church.
  • The main east window, of four lights, represents the Te Deum, with Christ in Majesty flanked by angels. It is by Clayton and Bell (1876).
     
  • Cast iron memorials are found to the left and right of the entrance, dating from 1692–1707, with some interesting spellings. These were probably cast locally.
  • The floor tiles of the chancel and sanctuary are reproductions of medieval tiles at Coutances, France.
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A vast church with an explosive history

The proud red Gothic tower of St Leonard's dominates Bridgnorth's skyline. Surrounding it is an oval of charming houses, almost like a cathedral close. Inside, the church has the airy vastness of a cathedral - the size is breathtaking.

The width of the nave and aisles together is not much less than that of St Paul's Cathedral in London and as you walk in from the door under the tower you get an extraordinary sense of space being slowly revealed. Seemingly medieval, it is in fact almost entirely a Victorian restoration. This is because disaster struck during the Civil War when St Leonard's was used by Cromwell's troops as an ammunition store. A cannon shot caused it to explode, and fire swept through the town. The church was repaired, and in the seventeenth-century, the magnificent nave roof was installed.

Most of the current church dates from the nineteenth century building campaign under the Revd George Bellett, whose monument is in the church. The interior is beautiful - look out for the umbrella stands on the pews. All the woodwork, stained glass, tiles and stonework inside are of exceptionally high quality and there are a number of interesting memorials to well-known townspeople over the centuries. The most unusual are the four cast-iron monuments dating from 1692 to 1707, probably made at Richard Knight's ironworks nearby.

A contribution can be made towards the conservation at the church by texting BRI to 70970 to donate £5, or to 70191 to donate £10. Thank you for your support

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