St Leonards Church

24/04/2024

📸 Check out the stunning designs for SSt Leonards Church This imaginative home will bring new life to a historic church, blending its unique heritage with contemporary design elements. The approved scheme focuses on enhancing architectural features while creating spacious, open-plan living areas with modern touches.

Take a look at the planning and listed building consent details on the Bassetlaw District Council planning portal, under application no. 22/00453/FUL. If you're interested in bringing this project to life or want to learn more, reach out to the architect, Hugh Massey, at 0191 300 6885. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of something truly special!

28/03/2024

When the church underwent essential repairs in 2008 and 2011, we got to know a lot more about its rich history and quirks, including the following.

First, when we repaired the clock, we couldn’t work out why there was three random holes, one in the clock face, and one each in the hour hand and minute hand. That was until we lined them up to 12.00 o’clock, and they pointed directly at the front door of Ragnall Hall. The Lord of the Manor shot the clock when it was striking 12.00, no doubt with his WW1 Lee Enfield, as the holes were a perfect .303” diameter!! If you zoom into the picture of the clock, you can clearly see them!

Next, the church never had heating, save for a wood burning stove in the Lady Chapel to keep just the women of the parish warm…or so we thought. It quickly became apparent that an underfloor vent led from the stove to the pulpit, so the Vicar could enjoy a warm draft up his cassock whilst the rest of the congregation froze!

13/03/2024

01/03/2024

Reborn in 1864, St Leonards Church unveiled new treasures: an octagonal stone font, fresh pews, a majestic pulpit, a prayer desk, and a lectern.
Below, immerse yourself in the timeless charm with pictures from 1900. 📸

01/03/2024

📸 Step into history with this glimpse of the chancel aisle, crafted in 1864. Each detail echoes tales of dedication and artistry. 🕰️🏛️

01/03/2024

The only stained glass in the church is the east window, made by William Wailes of Newcastle and dating from 1864. It is dedicated to the Rev H Jubb's parents.

A description of the window at the reopening of the church in November 1864 is provided by the Stamford Mercury:

'The east window of three lights is a memorial one. In the centre is the crucifixion. In the north panel is another figure surmounted with a scroll on which is inscribed, "Woman behold thy son." In the south is another figure, above the head of which is a scroll, with the words, "Behold thy mother." Beneath the whole is the following inscription: "To the Glory of God, in memory of John Jubb, of St. Petersburg, obit A.D. 1857, and of Harriet, his wife, obit A.D. 1835.—R.I.P.—Nov., 1864.” The window is a beautiful one by Wailes, of Newcastle.'

19/02/2024

Check out these fascinating historical pictures and sketches of Ragnall St. Leonard's Church!

19/02/2024

Domesday describes Ragnall as a ‘Berewick’ (outlying estate) to Dunham-on-Trent, and there is no mention of a church or priest. In 1378 Ragnall and Dunham are referred to as ‘in the demesne of the Crown’ and so were exempt from tax. Little early history of the church appears to be recorded, but in 1406 it is described as a chaplaincy and more specifically in 1528 Ragnall is described as a stipendary chaplaincy to Southwell Minster. The parish continued to be a peculiar of Southwell and is recorded in the Southwell Peculiar Court Registers for the period 1530 to 1839.

In 1743 the sacrament was administered only four times a year, and the communicants averaged 40 in number. In 1851 the church was dedicated to St Oswald and had a general attendance of 60.

The building comprises a nave and integral south aisle (there is no arcade division), a chancel with south aisle, and a west tower. The chancel, vestry, and the south aisle were rebuilt in 1864, possibly by the architect Ewan Christian, at which time the rest of the building was thoroughly restored. The nave has some 14th and 15th century windows and the west tower is constructed of two phases, the uppermost having plain, rectangular belfry windows that appear to be of the 17th century with a single trefoil window lower on the south side, probably re-used from another part of the building.

There were formerly two 17th century monuments, one to William Mellish and one to William Reason. The octagonal font was of the 19th century. A large clock dial sits in a square projection between the belfry and the small trefoil window on the south side of the tower.

The well-known architect Nicholas Hawksmoor was born either in Ragnall or East Drayton.

An ink sketch of the church in 1773 by Hieronymous Grimm shows the church before the 19th century restoration. The south windows of the nave were evidently of about 1300 and the chancel south-east window was of the 14th century. The south nave door looks to be 18th century. There were also high-level windows at the west end of the south wall, almost certainly intended to provide light to an interior western gallery.

Learn more about the rich heritage of St Leonards by clicking on this link:
https://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/ragnall/hintro.php