Church Micro 810...Bengeo-St Leonards Traditional Geocache
Church Micro 810...Bengeo-St Leonards
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A magnetic micro near a rare example of an original Norman village church’, part of the Church Micros series.
The Parish of Bengeo is somewhat unusual in possessing two churches in regular use. Saint Leonard’s built shortly after the Norman Conquest served as the parish church until 1855 when this role passed to the new and much larger church of Holy Trinity. However, for the latter part of the 19th and the early part of the 20th century, Bengeo possessed no less than five churches
Step into Saint Leonard‘s and take a giant step back in time. It is almost a 1000 years since Saxon and later, Norman masons were creating this sturdy village church. Subsequent centuries may have left their different marks but the church is essentially unchanged. Indeed if those masons could return, they would instantly recognize their handiwork as would the villagers who witnessed the church's consecration all those centuries ago. The subdued tones of the Medieval wall painting may provide but a hint of the vibrant colours that originally adorned the interior but the basic structure of rectangular nave and apsidal chancel remains - uncluttered and unimproved by well-meaning but over enthusiastic Victorian restorers.
If you could step inside the church in the first half of the 19th century, its appearance would be very different from today’s. The nave was furnished with relatively tall box pews, there was a 3-decker pulpit, an elaborate baroque decorative scheme on the chancel arch and a minstrel’s gallery at the West end.
All this disappeared during the period, 1855-1875. By the mid 19th century the centre of the village of Bengeo had moved away from St Leonard’s church and the building itself had become too small for the congregation.
A new church was needed, and Holy Trinity church was opened in 1855. St. Leonard’s future immediately became uncertain. Fortunately, it was not demolished, although it was stripped of most of its fittings and more or less abandoned. The church rapidly became neglected and in 1876, Cussans wrote in his History of Hertfordshire, “The interior fittings are completely swept away, nothing but the monuments remaining.”
At the instigation of the Gosselin family of nearby Bengeo Hall, a sensitive restoration of the building was carried out during the years 1884 – 1894. The Chancel roof and the stained glass in the east window date from this period.
The quality of work undertaken during the restoration programme was of the highest order as can be seen in the beautiful oak chancel roof but ambitious plans for pews in the nave and choir and clergy stalls in the chancel were never realised owing to shortage of funds. Indeed it was only in 1938 that the nave could be used for services.
An active community still supports the church and its activities. Nearby Holy Trinity Church is also part of the Bengeo community. For more photos, history as well Parish information visit : -www.parishofbengeo.com
Cache placed with the kind permission of the Church authorities & Hertford town Council
If anyone would like to add new Caches to this series please do, I would just ask that you let Sadexploration know first so that he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
6 cnprf sebz OG