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St Leonard's Church 1873-1970
Nick Ford continues his series exploring 1870-1 and stands just a few metres to
‘former glories’, the many buildings around the southeast of the site of the original
Ludlow which used to be places of worship. chapel of Saint Leonard, which was
This month we look at one of the most situated at the junction of Corve Street
prominent, St Leonard’s. and the Linney.
This former Anglican church is named The church is built in the French Gothic
after an ancient chapel of the same style, of red stone from Felton and
dedication, founded by the Order of dressed with stone from Luston. It
Knights Hospitaller, which stood near accommodated a congregation of 200
the site from the 12th century until the and cost £1,800, the contractor being E
mid-18th century. The Town Edwards of Leominster, supervised by
Corporation then acquired the William Cooke. It consists of a nave,
trusteeship and caused a scandal by first chancel and vestry, with no aisles. It has
allowing the old chapel to a circular east
become derelict and then window and several
demolishing it to use as lancet windows, a
building material for a new south porch and a
bridge over the River bellcote over the
Corve in 1771 and for two chancel arch. On its
new houses near the de-consecration and
bridge, which they then sale in 1970 it became
leased to one of their own an antiques
members. By 1813 there showroom for some
was such concern about years before
the overuse of St becoming the home
Laurence's churchyard for of the Saint Leonard's
burials that it was argued Press, which it
that the chapel should be remains today.
re-built and its former The churchyard has a
burial ground be brought somewhat different, if
back into public use. The parallel, story and is
Corporation fought the case all the way somewhat older than the present Saint
to the Vice-Chancellor's Court in Leonard's church which it surrounds.
London, where they were found guilty of Originally part of the site of the old
'a gross breach of trust' and ordered to Carmelite Priory of Saint Mary, founded
rebuild the chapel - something the in 1350 and dissolved in 1538, the
Corporation managed to avoid doing for churchyard land was given by the Clive
several more decades! family in 1824 to the Parish of Saint
The present church building was Laurence for additional burials.
designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in (continued on p11)
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