St Margaret of Antioch Church, Leigh Delamere
Encyclopedia
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 has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is now a redundant church
in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. It was declared redundant on 1 November 1992, and was vested
in the Trust on 16 December 1993.
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. The new church was commissioned by Joseph Neeld
and designed by James Thomson who also designed the nearby Grittleton House which is now Grittleton House School
. The Gothic
chancel
, includes a reredos
which is carved and decorated in many colours. The west window includes stained glass
by Wilmshurst. There are many memorials including those to the Neeld Baronets
. 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.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England was built, on the site of a previous 12th century church, in 1846 and dedicated to Margaret the Virgin
Margaret the Virgin
Margaret the Virgin, also known as Margaret of Antioch , virgin and martyr, is celebrated as a saint by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches on July 20; and on July 17 in the Orthodox Church. Her historical existence has been questioned; she was declared apocryphal by Pope Gelasius I in 494,...
. It has been designated 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...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is now a redundant church
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. It was declared redundant on 1 November 1992, and was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Trust on 16 December 1993.
The previous church had been built around 1190, in an Early English style with some 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...
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. The new church was commissioned by Joseph Neeld
Joseph Neeld
Joseph Neeld was Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom for the rotten borough of Gatton, Surrey in 1830 and for Chippenham, Wiltshire, England from 1830 to 1856.- Career :...
and designed by James Thomson who also designed the nearby Grittleton House which is now Grittleton House School
Grittleton House School
Grittleton House School is a small, family-run independent school and children's daycare provider situated in the village of Grittleton near Chippenham in Wiltshire. The school is co-educational with around 300 pupils and toddlers aged 2-16....
. The Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, includes a reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
which is carved and decorated in many colours. The west window includes stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
by Wilmshurst. There are many memorials including those to the Neeld Baronets
Neeld Baronets
The Neeld Baronetcy, of Grittleton in the County of Wiltshire, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 20 April 1859 for John Neeld, a Conservative politician and Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Queen Victoria...
. 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.