Photos by John Wilkes of Cam near Dursley, Gloucestershire
The Gloucestershire Photo Library
St. Leonard's is a Norman cruciform church. The central tower collapsed, as at Elkstone and Hampnett, and the stump of it has been reroofed, most effectively, with four gables. The church was restored in 1898-99 by C. Hodgson Fowler, new roofs provided and a West bellcote with spirelet added. The electric light is in candelabra. There are stone paved floors. The font is plain and octagonal and early 13th Century. The wall paintings are notable - principally the early Doom painting on the North wall of the nave. This is Transitional work dating to circa 1200 to 1220. The painting depicts the Virgin flanked by paired apostles within a round-arched arcade. Below that the sifting of souls is displayed.
The late 19th Century stained glass East window is by Clayton & Bell. The church stands in the grounds of the grand country house of Stowell Park. The main central part of the mansion was built in the early 17th Century for the Atkinson family. The house overlooks the Chedworth Woods and the winding River Coln. The estate is now owned by the Vestey family.
Page composition by Allan Taylor of Vancouver, Canada
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