Andrew, South Stoke had at Woodcote a dependent chapel that served both Woodcote and Exlade Street.[3] The chapel was dedicated to St. Leonard and there is a record from 1467 of John Chedworth, Bishop of Lincoln, issuing a licence for services at it.[3] Architectural evidence suggests that the chapel, which had an apsidal chancel, was much older and probably dated from the 12th century.[3]
The peo
ple of Woodcote and Exlade Street could not afford to pay a priest to serve at the chapel, and in 1597 it was recorded that the vicar of South Stoke held services at St. Leonard's only on Christmas Day, Easter Day and a few other days each year.[3] Some worshippers travelled 3 miles (4.8 km) each way to South Stoke to go to church, but most preferred to travel less than 1 mile (1.6 km) to SS Peter and Paul in the adjacent parish of Checkendon.[3] The law obliged everyone to worship in their own parishes, so since 1595 the Rector of Checkendon had prosecuted people from Exlade Street and Checkendon in the local archdeacon's court for coming to his church.[3] In response the faithful of Exlade Street and Woodcote petitioned John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury for permission to worship at Checkendon.[3] Whitgift granted the request, so long as they continued to attend their parish church in South Stoke four times a year.[3] In 1653 the faithful of Woodcote and Exlade Street petitioned for St. Leonard's to be made a separate parish, but their request was not granted.[3]
In 1845-46 St. Leonard's was rebuilt to the designs of the Gothic Revival architect H.J. Underwood.[3][6] Of the original building little survives except the outer flintwork of the chancel walls.[3][6]
Woodcote used to hold an annual sheep fair on the first Monday after St Leonard's Day (6 November).[3] The earliest known record of it is from early in the 18th century, but the link with the feast day of the parish's patron saint suggests the fair may have begun in the Middle Ages.[3] The fair was still being held in 1852.[3]
The Church is open every day. You are very welcome to use it as a place of rest and quiet.
