St Mary Magdalene

St Mary Magdalene, Leinthall Starkes is known locally as'the church in the field' due to its location half a mile outside the current village down a long sloping grass track.

Leinthall Starkes, Herefordshire

Opening times

11am to 5pm on Sundays from the beginning of April to the end of October.
11am to 5pm on Saturdays from the beginning of July to the end of September.
Keys available at other times from Bev Dowdy 01568 770121 or Ruth Perkins 01568 770336.

Address

Leinthall Starkes
Herefordshire
SY8 4LL

It has a  tranquil simplicity, with four large yew trees in the churchyard and church bells that are about 700 years old.

The histories of the church and the village of Leinthall Starkes are closely linked. In the middle of the 13th century the estates of Roger Lenethale, which had previously been taken away from his family by the Norman Barons, were returned to him by King Henry III. The estate which was known as Lenthall was then split by Roger into two separate manors: Leinthall Starkes and Leinthall Earles. In each of these manors he then built a manor house with attendant buildings and a freestanding chapel using local sandstone. The senior manor house, where Roger lived, was in Leinthall Starkes and its chapel eventually became the church of St Mary Magdalene.

Being originally a chapel may go some way towards explaining the simplicity of this place of worship, and other than having a bellcote installed in the 17th century, it has changed little during the intervening years with many of the original 13th century features remaining. The church was restored in the early 16th century with money left in the will of William Lenthall (a descendent of Roger) for that purpose when he died in 1497. It was restored again in 1876.

The rood screen is about 500 years old. The bells are 14th century, but the bellcote is not as old. Rumour has it that the bells used to hang in a tree in the churchyard.

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Steps to enter the church or churchyard

  • Parking within 250m

  • Dog friendly

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Michael

Brimfield, Herefordshire

There has probably been a church on the site since 1100AD.

St Mary the Virgin

Middleton on the Hill, Herefordshire

With only a few neighbouring houses for company, the church stands more or less alone on a mound, surrounded by the open farmland of the uplands of Herefordshire.