St. Leonard, Old Warden, Bedfordshire

Description

The church of St. Leonard is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 6 bells: it underwent considerable repairs in 1841-2, when the interior was renovated, pews of black oak, elaborately carved, substituted, and several stained windows inserted, the whole being executed at the expense of Robert Henley, third and last baron Ongley, and late owner of the estate, who died in 1877, and whose munificence has been recorded on a mural tablet of brass: in the nave is a marble statue of Sir Samuel Ongley knt. and there are tablets to several of his descendants: there is a picture in the church, either an original by Guercine or a replica; seven stained windows have been placed in the church by Col. F. Shuttleworth; one in the chancel, in memory of Caroline Jane, second wife of Joseph Shuttleworth, ob. Dec. 28, 1899; one in the west wall of the tower represents the Annunciation: one in the south-east corner of the south wall represents St. Stephen, St. Leonard and St Lawrence; one in the eastern end of the south aisle represents the Adoration of the Magi: there is also one containing some fragments of ancient glass, said to have been removed from the abbey: a new organ was placed in the church in 1887 by Col. F. Shuttleworth: in the church, within an alabaster niche, flanked by columns, is a monument to Caroline Jane Shuttleworth, consisting of a life-sized figure clinging to the Cross; there are 250 sittings: the churchyard contains a fine monument to Joseph Shuttleworth, erected by his sons, Alfred and Col. Frank Shuttleworth J.P.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1576.