Church Of St Leonard

TR 05 NW SHELDWICH BADLESMERE

1/74 Church of St Leonard 24.1.67 GV II*

Parish church. C13 and early C19. Flint, entirely rendered and channelled except on part of nave north wall. Plain tiled roof. Chancel, nave, south porch and west tower. C19 west end, with chamfered Gothick lancets, and double chamfered west doorway to tower-cum-porch, with louvred belfry. Battlemented south porch. Chancel with offset corner buttresses, 2 east lancets and C14 ogee headed north window. North nave and chancel wall is inset 3 times with exposed quoins, the chancel roof also stepped - evidence of previous greater size of church. Interior: west tower intrudes into nave; nave roof of 2 large moulded crown posts, chancel roof of 3 spindly crown posts. No chancel arch, but chancel stepped in from nave, and north chancel wall stepped in, with exposed jambs of arcade to lost chapel. Fittings: complete set of C18 box pews with raised and fielded panels, the rear set raised in tiers. Integral 2-tier pulpit with ramped hand rail and panelling. C18 altar rail with turned balusters and square knops and moulded dado panelling to sanctuary and reredos with ball flower finial and inscriptions. C15 bench ends incorporated into C18 Choir stalls; linenfold panels, with emblem of Trinity on one end and Star and Garter on the other end. Inscribed to and made for Sir Richard Badlesmere, 1415. C15 octagonal font; plain with C17 wooden font cover. Royal coat of Arms 1717, and large hatchment on south wall. Six Tugged inscription boards in nave. The whole is remarkably unrestored and unusually so for this part of Kent.(See B.0.E. Kent II, 1983, 131).

Listing NGR: TR0162256679