Memorial, Over Whitacre

Aidan McRae Thomson
recent  |  interesting  |  random  |  favorites  |  contacts  |  sets  |  tags:  
Memorial, Over Whitacre
Memorial, Over Whitacre

St Leonard's at Over Whitacre is a delightful church, a small but elegant Georgian building standing in a commanding hilltop position. The only reminder of the medieval church that preceded this one is the base of the churchyard cross (the Norman font also survives but was removed to Sutton Coldfield church).

The present church was built in 1765 by the Hiorn brothers of Warwick and remains structurally little changed aside from the original cupola on the tower being replaced by a tall steeple in the Victorian period. It is a very neat and compact building consisting of an aisleless nave terminated by a shallow chancel. The churchyard around it is full of picturesque headstones and worth exploring.

Entry is by the west door beyond which the space under the tower forms a porch with stairs to the west gallery, and also contains the font in a recess. The nave beyond is a surprisingly intimate space, being on a modest scale but all the more appealing for it. There is Victorian stained glass in the chancel and easternmost windows of the nave, but the rest remains clear-glazed as originally intended and thus the interior is still flooded with light. Several memorial tablets line the walls of the nave.

Sadly this church is always kept locked and as a result this was at least my third visit (which I'd duly tried to co-ordinate with the end of the Sunday service but alas didn't quite make it in time). However a phone number for visitors is now posted on the noticeboard by the churchyard gate which I rang and before long a lovely lady called Rita arrived and let me in (her history of the church is linked below). I am very grateful for her time given at such short notice and the opportunity to finally see inside this delightful church.
www.ourparishwls.com/our-churches/st-leonard-s/

© All Rights Reserved
Taken on: July 21, 2024
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Over Whitacre Over Whitacre Everybody's photos tagged with church church Everybody's photos tagged with Warwickshire Warwickshire more » Everybody's photos tagged with Monument Monument Everybody's photos tagged with memorial memorial « less
Sets appears in:   • Over Whitacre - St Leonard    • Warwickshire churches    more » • Church Monuments    « less
Groups appears in:   • Pre-Victorian UK Church wall monuments   
Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ70, f/4.4, 0.6 sec, 11.7mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ70
Aperture: f/4.4
Exposure Time: 0.6
Focal Length: 11.7mm
ISO: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer 6.1.7600.16385
Show full info
Stats: 80 views