The south porch dates back to the 14th century. There are north and south aisles in St Leonards with one capital being dated at 1160. Others are dated a little later. The pulpit has Jacobean panels (the Jacobean era was 1603 until 1625) and the communion alter rails date from the same period. These were originally installed to keep dogs or other animals from straying in to the sanctuary.
Also catching the eye inside is a Victorian bier, a cart used for transporting coffins at a funeral. There is one similar at nearby Woodnewton.
Outside, on the south side of the tower, a solitaty gargoyle sits, mouth pulled open in typical medieval gesture. Whilts on the subject of the tower, St Leonards's has three bells, two of which are very ancient. One is by John Sleyt and dates from the 14th Century. The inscription on this reads....INNORE SATTI MARIA JOHANNES SLEYT ME FECIT. After a less than successful attempt to translate this using an online Latin - English translation all I will say is that I think this translates as Blameless St Mary. John Sleyt made me.The online translation didn't like the words SATTI or FECIT. I think Saint in Latin is SANCTUS. Any help would be appreciated!
