Church of St Leonard, Middleton
Encyclopedia
St Leonard's is an Anglican parish church in Middleton
, Greater Manchester
, England
. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
in 1957.
Much of the present building was erected in 1412 by Cardinal Thomas Langley
(born in Middleton in 1363) who served as Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor of England. He re-used the Norman
doorway from an earlier structure to create the tower arch. Also distinctive in this part of the world is the wooden belfry tower.
The church of St Leonard
was completed in 1524 by Sir Richard Assheton, in celebration of the knighthood granted to him by Henry VIII
for his part in the Battle of Flodden Field
. The Flodden Window, in the sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial
in the UK. It commemorates on it the names of the Middleton archers
who fought at Flodden Field in 1513. The church also has one of the finest collections of monumental brass
es in the area, including the only brass in the UK of an English Civil War
officer in full armour, Major-General Sir Ralph Assheton.
Middleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
in 1957.
Much of the present building was erected in 1412 by Cardinal Thomas Langley
Thomas Langley
Thomas Langley was an English prelate who held high ecclesiastical and political offices in the early to mid 1400s. He was Dean of York, Bishop of Durham, twice Lord Chancellor of England to three kings, and a Pseudocardinal. In turn Keeper of the King's signet and Keeper of the Privy Seal before...
(born in Middleton in 1363) who served as Bishop of Durham and Lord Chancellor of England. He re-used the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
doorway from an earlier structure to create the tower arch. Also distinctive in this part of the world is the wooden belfry tower.
The church of St Leonard
Leonard of Noblac
Leonard of Noblac or of Limoges or de Noblet , is a Frankish saint closely associated with the town and abbey of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, in Haute-Vienne, in the Limousin of France.-Traditional biography:According to the romance that...
was completed in 1524 by Sir Richard Assheton, in celebration of the knighthood granted to him by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
for his part in the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
. The Flodden Window, in the sanctuary, is thought to be the oldest war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
in the UK. It commemorates on it the names of the Middleton archers
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
who fought at Flodden Field in 1513. The church also has one of the finest collections of monumental brass
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
es in the area, including the only brass in the UK of an English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
officer in full armour, Major-General Sir Ralph Assheton.
See also
- List of churches in Greater Manchester
- Grade I listed buildings in Greater ManchesterGrade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester-See also:*Architecture of Manchester*Conservation in the United Kingdom*Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester*List of tallest buildings in Manchester*Scheduled Monuments in Greater Manchester-Bibliography:...