Sculpture & Monuments

St. Leonard's Cross

As with many of the mediaeval churches in South Yorkshire, St. Leonard's church has a highly weathered carved shaft of an ancient cross in its churchyard – made of Magnesian Limestone. Along with a niche in the south elevation of the chancel, it is the only example of this type of stone seen when walking around the exterior of the church.

Victorian head stops

Looking up to the top of the 15th century tower, gargoyles sprout from each corner and various head stops to various windows and the porch – added in the 19th century – provide some fine examples of stone carving in Carboniferous sandstone of unknown provenance.

A view of the nave from the chancel

Once inside the church, apart from the narrow sandstone arches arches to both the chancel and tower and a small section of walling left exposed in the plastered walls, it is the various monuments that are of most interest to the geologist.

Monuments carved in various decorative stones

Taking advantage of an offer to be guided around the interior of the church, after talking to various local residents when photographing the Buttercross in Thrybergh, I didn't have the time to examine any of them closely, but the monuments on the walls provide fine examples of various decorative stones that were favoured by memorial masons from the early 16th century onwards.

The chantry tomb of Sir Ralph Reresby

The highlight of this quick tour of yet another mediaeval church in South Yorkshire, which has a fascinating construction history, was the opportunity to see the chantry tomb of Sir Ralph Reresby and other defaced 14th century effigies – all of which are carved from Magnesian Limestone.

A 14th century effigy of a priest