Church Of St Leonard The Less

The Church of St Leonard the Less is a church largely dating to 1558, with visible masonry from a late 12th-century structure in both gables, and a tower and porches added in 1899. The church consists of a single-chancelled nave with aisles, and a tower attached to the north-west corner. There are two gabled, timber-framed porches on the south side. Aisle and clerestory windows are characterised by their three-arched lights, deeply splayed reveals, and hoodmoulds. The west window has three lights with intersecting tracery, while the east wall features a three-light window with perpendicular tracery, surmounted by a dripmould with figured stops. The tower is built of ashlar and is battlemented, with diagonal buttresses, a west door, a first-floor window, belfry louvres on all sides, and a stair turret.

Inside, the nave arcades comprise four bays following the line of the original outer walls; the west ends of which remain. The arcades are formed by three short octagonal columns with moulded capitals and matching responds at each end, supporting double-chamfered two-centred arches. Interior walls are of coursed irregular masonry and have ribbon pointing (formerly plastered until 1884). The wooden ceiling features slightly-cambered bridging beams and secondary beams, all chamfered (previously concealed by a reed and plaster ceiling until 1884), with sloping aisle roofs above. The church contains an exceptionally complete set of individually constructed and decorated box pews, with dates and plates ranging from 1678 to 1756. Other notable furnishings include a two-level, three-decker pulpit of the 18th century and a 17th-century Communion rail with turned balusters. Also present is funerary armour, believed to be that of Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury Hall, dating to 1546. Further fixtures include painted canvas panels depicting the Royal Arms, Commandments, Creed, and Lord's Prayer. An alabaster slab commemorates Sir William Atherton and his wife (deceased in 1440 and 1480, respectively), along with memorial tablets for Geoffrey Hornby (deceased in 1801) and Mrs. Fielden (deceased in 1859). A possibly Norman tub font and a 14th-century Sanctus Bell over the east door are also present. Numerous masons' marks are visible on the south arcade, exterior north wall, and jambs of the east window.