Grade I listed St Leonard’s secures Heritage Lottery Fund grant

St Leonard's has been granted £218,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards fabric repairs and internal alterations.

St Leonard's Church is a Grade I listed Anglican parish church in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

The building is believed to be located on the site of a Saxon church and the earliest fabric within the church dates from the Norman period. The church was completed in 1524 by Sir Richard Assheton in celebration of the knighthood granted to him by Henry VII for his part in the Battle of Flodden.

The church has a number of features of significant historic interest. This includes, a small stone tower surmounted by a weather boarded belfry, believed to be one of only two of its type in the country and added to the tower in the early 15th century.

Located in the church’s sanctuary is also The Flodden Window. The stained-glass window is thought to be the oldest war memorial in the UK and commemorates the names of the Middleton archers who fought at Flodden. The church also has one of the finest collections of monumental brasses in the area, including the only brass in the UK of an English Civil War officer in full armour.

Work on the church is due to commence in September and the grant will be used to undertake repair work to the church’s fabric and complete internal alterations. The funding will also support the creation of a disabled toilet will created and refurbished kitchen.

Buttress worked closely with the church to prepare the applications. This included the creation of a Statement of Significance, which provides guidance on future works to the church, and an assessment of the impact of the proposals, developed by our Heritage Consultancy team.