About Us

St Leonard's is a much loved Norman village church in the North Cotswolds village of Bledington. We have a service every week, apart from on the 1st Sunday of the month when we join with the six other parishes in the Evenlode Vale Benefice (with whom we share a vicar) at nearby Holy Ascension, Oddington.

Services are conducted by Rev. Oliver Strange or by other local clergy and lay readers.

Apart from the United Service on the 1st Sunday, regular services follow the pattern of a traditional Evening Prayer with hymns on the 2nd Sunday at 6pm, an early morning Holy Communion at 9am on the 3rd (and 5th) Sunday, and a less formal Morning Worship at 11am on the 4th Sunday.

History & architecture

Records show that our current church dates from around 1170 and is Grade I listed. 12th century work includes the nave, pillars, tub font & sanctus bellcote.  Later work includes the 13th century south aisle, 14th century windows and a 15th century tower and a tiny Chantry chapel. The windows are mainly clear, but with original stained glass segments dating from the 15th century. Unusually, bell-chamber is open and visible from the nave and has a ring of six bells which are still rung regularly. The pulpit and vestry screen were constructed around 1904 by a then churchwarden. The building was sensitively restored in the 1920s. It can hold a congregation of about 100.

Who was St Leonard?

The church is one of around 170 in England dedicated to Leonard of Noblac, a 5th century French abbot. He was one of the most venerated saints of the late Middle Ages. His intercession was credited with miracles for the release of prisoners, women in labour and the diseases of cattle.