Church Building

Leckhampton Parish Church

Sir John Giffard is considered responsible for the original building of the church: roughly what is now the nave, south aisle and sanctuary and the tall slender ‘broach’ spire, which is still a conspicuous landmark in local stone. It stands on the site of an earlier chapel probably used by Henry, of which a few traces survive, including the font. This little church remained unchanged until 1834, when a gallery was erected over the south aisle and a vestry was added. Thirty years later, Leckhampton’s population had grown to such an extent that the architect John Middleton was invited to draw up plans to enlarge the church. The gallery was taken down, a north aisle was added, the porch was resited and the whole building was extended 23 feet to the west.

To Henry Norwood’s five bells a further three have been added, and Leckhampton now possesses a well-tuned ring of 20th-century bells. Among the other items of interest in the church – apart from the already mentioned Norwood brass and the Giffard effigies – is the pulpit. This is reputed to have been made out of oak taken from a tree grown in a nearby field. It was designed by L.W.Barnard, the son of the historian R.C.Barnard. L.W.Barnard also designed the war memorial, which was erected on the site of the former village draw well.