Church of St Leonard, Southminster (EHER 38670)

A parish church of 12th century origins with 15th and 19th century alterations. It is thought to be on the site of the earlier Saxon Minster (EHER 19417). The nave was built in the early 12th century and the lower part of the tower may be of the same date. The nave was heightened in the 15th century when the upper part of the tower and the North porch were also added by Abbot Vytoner of St Osyth Abbey. The chancel, sanctuary, North and South transepts were all built in around 1820. The interior of the church contains many 19th century furnishings, alongside a possible 12th century carved stone head and 15th century octagonal font. The fabric of the building features septaria, mixed rubble and some Roman brick.

Monument description derived from merging with EHER 11249-11251: December 1959. Grade II* listed. A parish church. The nave shows three distinct phases of building: one of 12th century septaria, rubble and Roman brick, and a 15th century flint clerestory, with a 19th century gault brick upper. The West tower base is 12th century and built of septaria and rubble, raised in the 15th century and later repaired with red brick. It has flint flushwork gables. The North porch is 15th century, made of flint with stone dressings. The chancel, sanctuary, North and South transepts are of rendered brick and were built around 1820. The building suffered bomb damage in 1940 and is covered with 20th century concrete pantiles. It is symmetrical with five angled gables, the left and right corner turrets have slanting roofs and the transepts are gabled to the North and South. There is a small plastered lean-to extension to the East wall of the South transept. Internally, there is a 15th century octagonal font with 19th century carved timber cover, a 19th century brass eagle lectern and carved timber octagonal pulpit. High up on the East wall is a probable 12th century carved stone head. A chest, table, glass fronted cupboard, looking glass and iron box fireplace, known as The Nelson Relics and reputed to have been brought from H.M.S. Victory by Dr. Alexander Scott, are in the transept vestries. <1> See photos <2>. 'Roman brick in church at Southminster'. The walls are of septaria and mixed rubble with some Roman brick. <3> A parish church with walls of septaria and mixed rubble, some Roman brick, dressings of limestone and a slate-covered roof. The nave was built in the early 12th century and the lower part of the tower may be of the same date. The nave was heightened in the 15th century when the upper part of the tower and the North porch were also added. The church has been restored in modern times when the chancel and transepts were added and the nave again heightened. The North wall of the nave contains an upper range of two 15th century windows. In the South wall the two western windows of the lower range are also 15th century. To the West of the central window is the early 12th century South doorway. There is an upper range of four 15th century windows. There is an early 15th century doorway in the North wall. The West tower is of three stages with the 15th century tower arch. In the East wall is a carved corbel probably of the 12th century and in the South wall a window of probably 12th century, now blocked. A 15th century West window is partially restored. There is a 15th century window in each wall of the bell chamber. The 15th century North porch of is of two-storeys. Furnishings include a square iron bound chest, probably 16th century, in the tower. There are two incised crosses on the splays of the South doorway in the nave, the upper probably 12th century. A 15th century door in the staircase to the upper room of the porch is of overlapping battens with strap hinges. There is a late 15th century octagonal font. <4> In the ground floor of the porch the vaulted stone ceiling includes carved bosses of the Trinity, Half Angels and foliate motifs, some eroded. There are two consecration crosses on the splay of the South doorway, the lower is probably 15th century when the church was extended by Vytoner, Abbot of St Osyth, Essex. There are 15th century poppyhead choir stalls - in front row only, the rest are 19th century copies. In the 19th century chancel are carved stone reredos including figures of Saints Cedd and Alban and illuminations of the 12 apostles, and there is a central red marble crucifix. There is 19th-20th century stained glass in the ground floor windows. <5> <6> The parish church of St Leonard, which is thought to be on the site of the earlier Saxon Minster (EHER 19417), was endowed by Richard de Belmeis, Bishop of London, in 1116. He granted the church to the Abbey of St Osyth, in 1151 it was transferred to the treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral, and then returned to St Osyth by Gilbert Foliot, Bishop of London. It has walls of septaria and mixed rubble with some Roman brick, dressings of limestone and slate roof. The nave was built in the early 12th century, presumably following the endowment of 1116, and the lower part of the tower may be of the same date. The nave was heightened in the 15th century when the upper part of the tower and the North porch were also added by Abbot Vytoner of St Osyth Abbey. The dedication is to St Leonard, a Frankish saint responsible for the deliverance of captives, pregnant women and diseased people and beasts, who became popular in the 11th century. <7> NRHE data transfer: St Leonard's Church (CofE) [NAT] <8> NRHE summary description: Parish church. Nave shows 3 distinct heights of building, 12th century septaria, rubble and Roman brick, 15th century flint clerestory, 19th century gault brick over. West tower base 12th century of septaria and rubble, raised 15th century, repairs of red brick, flint flushwork gables. 15th century North porch, flint with stone dressings from around 1820 Chancel, sanctuary, North and South transepts rendered brick. Bomb damage 1940. 20th century concrete pantiles. Full height Chancel, sanctuary, North and South transepts for Dr. Alexander Scott, a former naval officer.