St Margaret of Antioch Church, Leigh Delamere

St Margaret of Antioch Church
Location Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire, England
Coordinates 51°30′44″N 2°10′04″W / 51.51222°N 2.16778°W / 51.51222; -2.16778Coordinates: 51°30′44″N 2°10′04″W / 51.51222°N 2.16778°W / 51.51222; -2.16778
Built 1846
Architect James Thomson
Architectural style(s) Gothic revival
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Margaret
Designated 20 December 1960[1]
Reference no. 1022289
Location of St Margaret of Antioch Church in Wiltshire

St Margaret of Antioch Church in Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire, England was built on the site of a previous 12th-century church in 1846 and dedicated to Margaret the Virgin. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building,[1] and is now a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[2] It was declared redundant on 1 November 1992, and was vested in the Trust on 16 December 1993.[3]

The previous church had been built around 1190, in an Early English style with some Norman features. In 1301 the patron of the church was John De la Mare. By 1846 the church was in a dilapadated condition and it would have cost more to repair than rebuild.[4] The new church was commissioned by Joseph Neeld and designed by James Thomson who also designed the nearby Grittleton House. Thomson labelled the individual stones from the original church so that they could be reused in the new structure.[5] The Gothic chancel includes a reredos which is carved and decorated in many colours. The west window has stained glass by Thomas Wilmshurst.[2][6] There are many memorials including those to the Neeld Baronets.[1][7] A new organ was installed in 1896, and electricity supplied in 1949 although attendance by this time was very low. The church was closed as a regular place of worship in 1992.[4] In the 21st century a 15th century stone rood which had been hidden under the pews was restored by Minerva Conservation and placed in the chancel.[8]

In 2016 the church was used as a venue for "pop-up" opera with a performance of The Barber of Seville.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Church of St Margaret (1022289)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 28 January 2014
  2. 1 2 Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 2 April 2011
  3. ↑ Diocese of Bristol: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2011, p. 5, retrieved 2 April 2011
  4. 1 2 "Church of St. Margaret, Leigh Delamere". Wiltshire County Council. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "Church of St. Margaret, Leigh Delamere". Wiltshire Community History. Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "St. Margaret of Antioch, Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire, England". Duncan & Mandy Ball. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "St Margaret of Antioch Church, Leigh Delamere". Church O Mania. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "St Margaret of Antioch, Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire.". Minerva Conservation. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "St Margaret's Church, Leigh Delamere, Chippenham". Popup Opera. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
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