Church of St Leonard, Chelwood

The Church of St Leonard stands in the quiet village of Chelwood in Somerset. Built in the 14th century, it is a redundant church now, yet still holds Grade II* listed status. Most of what remains today dates from a restoration in the 19th century. The building’s west tower rises in two stages, topped by a bell cast in 1773 by Abraham Bilbie. Inside, fragments of 16th-century Flemish stained glass survive in the south aisle window. The church’s most unusual feature is its Norman font. Tiny volutes curl around its edges, and a frieze of lambrequins runs along the top. Local belief once held that these were locking staples meant to stop witches stealing holy water. The bell in the tower, made by the Bilbie family, adds another layer of craftsmanship to the site. Visitors find a small, peaceful church set among Somerset lanes. The font’s odd carvings draw attention, while the stained glass catches the light in the south aisle. The tower’s bell still rings on occasion, marking time over the fields. The building stands as a quiet witness to centuries of village life, its stone walls holding stories older than the modern village around it.