St Leonard's Church, Bengeo
{{Short description|Church in Hertfordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St Leonard's, Bengeo
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| image = St Leonard's Church, Bengeo 1 2020-08-23.jpg
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| caption = St Leonard's Church, Bengeo, Hertfordshire
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| osgraw = TL 33018 13638
| location = Bengeo
| country = England
| denomination = Church of England
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| dedication = St Leonard
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| heritage designation = Grade I{{NHLE|num=1268717 |desc=Church of St Leonard |access-date=18 February 2014}}
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| architectural type = Parish church
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| years built = 1120
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| parish = Bengeo
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| archdeaconry = Hertford
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| diocese = St Albans
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The Church of Saint Leonard is a Norman church in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England. Located on the hillside overlooking the shared Beane and Lea valley, the Grade I Listed church dates from about 1120, and is the oldest building in Hertford.{{cite web |title=St Leonard's Church (Bengeo) |url=http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/relig2y/rechri3y/recchu4y/cofe/hertford/876474 |website=Herts Direct |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323155439/http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/relig2y/rechri3y/recchu4y/cofe/hertford/876474 |archivedate=2009-03-23 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 July 2021}}
History
The building served as the parish church of Bengeo until the larger Holy Trinity Church was opened in 1855,{{cite web |title=St. Leonard's Home page |url=https://stleonards.parishofbengeo.com/church/index.html |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20210704200959/https://stleonards.parishofbengeo.com/church/index.html |archivedate= 4 July 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=4 July 2021}} after which St Leonard's was stripped of its fittings and stood empty and unused for some years. The Gosselin family of nearby Bengeo Hall commissioned John Thomas Micklethwaite to restore and refit the church between 1884 and 1894. In the 13th century, against the north-east end of the chancel, was an anchorite's cell which consisted of a wooden hut. Of eight feet by six feet, there was a recess in the wall for the anchorite’s bed and seat, and an access to the church.Besant, Walter (1906); Medieval London (Vol. 1&2): Historical, Social & Ecclesiastical, Chapter IV; "Hermits and Anchorites, p. 175 .London, A. & C. Black
Architecture
The church is built of flint with stone dressings and has a tiled roof.
The wooden west bellcote dates from the 19th-century restoration.{{cite book |last= Page |first= William |date= 1912 |title= A History of the County of Hertford: Volume 3 |url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/herts/vol3/pp423-427 |location= London |publisher= Victoria County History |pages= 423–427 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210629002425/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/herts/vol3/pp423-427|archive-date= 29 June 2021|url-status= live}} The bellcote houses a single bell, dated 1636.
The south doorway dates from the 12th century, with the addition of a Georgian brick porch.{{cite web |title=St. Leonard's The entrance |url=https://stleonards.parishofbengeo.com/church/the-entrance.html |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20210706172236/https://stleonards.parishofbengeo.com/church/the-entrance.html |archivedate= 6 July 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=6 July 2021}} The south door itself dates from the 14th century.
=Apse=
The apse is an unusual feature, found in only two other medieval churches in Hertfordshire, St John the Baptist, Great Amwell,{{NHLE|num=1341839 |desc=Parish Church of St John the Baptist |access-date=8 September 2021}} and St Mary's, Great Wymondley.
Interior
The nave is coated with plaster with an open collar-beam roof.
Remains of medieval wall paintings were uncovered during restoration work in 1938 by William Weir.
File:Interior of St.Leonards showing medieval wall painting.jpg
The church is used for Sunday services during summer months, and also hosts exhibitions and concerts.
Gallery
Image:St Leonards Bengeo 1.jpg|St Leonard's Church – porch, west wall and modern wooden bellcote
Image:St. Leonards Bengeo 2.jpg|St Leonard's Church – the east end of the church with its apse
Image:ChurchOfSaintLeonardBengeo.jpg|St Leonard's churchyard.
image:Stained Glass window.jpg|Stained-glass window
image:Roof timbers.jpg|Roof timbers
References
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External links
- [https://stleonards.parishofbengeo.com/church/index.html St Leonard’s Church Website]
{{commons category|Saint Leonard Church (Bengeo)}}
{{Listed buildings in Hertfordshire}}
{{coord|51.8053|-0.0800|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}