THE STANLEYS Read about St Swithun’s or St Georges

The two parishes of Leonard Stanley and Kings Stanley are two villages which were for many years placed together as a United Benefice within the Deanery of Stonehouse.
The two churches have worked together under one incumbent for a number of years, and have gradually worked towards their single pattern of services and a single PCC.

In 2007 they officially became a United Parish with two worship centres, and in 2008 the deanery of Stonehouse joined with the deanery of Bisley to form the new Stroud Deanery.

Within the two villages there are two primary schools. The school in Leonard Stanley is a Church of England Voluntary Aided school, and that in Kings Stanley is a Voluntary Controlled school. The incumbent visits both schools to take assembly and the schools are always welcomed into the two churches for various services throughout the year. The link with schools is very important to both churches.

The two villages have much to recommend them, and links from the church web site to the village sites will give information about the village activities.

History of St Swithun’s –
St Swithun’s is a beautiful church and really worth a visit. The ‘potted’ history here is a very condensed tour of the church.

The Saxon chapel which lies behind the church is now privately owned, but can be seen outside the west end of St Swithun’s.

St Swithun’s was originally part of an Augustinian priory founded by Roger de Berkely II between 1121 and 1129, and was originally dedicated to St Leonard.
Structurally there have been very few changes made since the completion of the church in 1129. The most significant of those that have been made are the 14th century roof and the large windows added in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Porch was added to the north side in 1300 and offered protection to the Norman door. Above the door you can see a carved capital which is thought to represent the Blessed Trinity, which probably came from the chancel. 

The Nave At the end of the 19th century the 14th century roof was hidden by a flat boarded ceiling, there was thick plaster on the walls, a West gallery and box pews in the church. Early in the 20th century with the church badly in need of repair the parish priest set about the restoration that was necessary. Some interesting discoveries were made during this. Two recessed tombs were uncovered in the south wall, one of which is thought to be 13th century, and the other 14th century. One of these is broken by a staircase leading up to a doorway high in the south wall.This 15th century addition led at one stage to the Rood Screen, also 15th century, which divided the parish part of the church from that of the monks. It is also possible to see two Norman doorways in the south wall, which would have led to the priory cloister. The box pews were removed in this restoration and replaced by chairs. The original ones being replaced in 1991 by the parishioners of the day.  

Old Solomon  is the name given to the clock now situated opposite the north door. It is still in working order and proves very interesting to specialist horologists and church visitors. This clock probably dates from the late 16th or early 17th centuries.  

The Font  is an early 18th century with an elaborate oak cover. The octagonal very shallow bowl rests on a pedestal. 

The West Window  is a 15th century window, although the glass is modern.
St Swithun, St George, St Aidan, St Alban and St Leonard are all represented in this window.

West End Window

There is also a stained glass window in the north wall which includes in the lights evidence of the link between Leonard Stanley and Dozule, Normandy. In this window the Holy Family is depicted in the centre light; and alos the Coat of Arms of Gloucester and the See of Canterbury. Golden Lions represent the Coat of Arms of Normandy beneath which are depicted two Normandy figures from Dozule and two workers from Leonard Stanley. In the tracery lights are symbols representing the Purity of Madionna - the lily; the Crown for he rmajesty and two red roses for her beauty

North Wall Window

Nave Altar was given to the church in 1984, and constructed by a local craftsman from the old bell-frame timbers.

The Pulpit is oak and has four heraldic shields
The first representing St Leonard shows the chains commemorating the story that he was given permission by a French king to release any prisoner he wished.
The second is the Denison Jones escutcheon
The third represent the diocese of Gloucester
The fourth is for St Swithun, with the rain and the apples denoting the ideas connected to the saint and his festival day. 

The south transept is used to house the organ and provides a small corridor now used as a vestry for the clergy.

The north transept is set aside for prayer and used for smaller services. Here you can find part of the late medieval rood beam from the screen in the nave.

The Tower the Norman chancel arch opens into the tower. There is still a cross passage giving direct access from the south transept to the chancel implying that the nave and crossing were used by parishioners for worship, and access from the transepts to the choir was need by the canons. There are still visible traces of medieval paintings on the eastern arch of the tower.

The Chancel  in both north and south walls of the sanctuary are deep aumbries. That found in the north wall is Norman and has an unusual rounded top. Over the other in the south wall, there is one of the most remarkable sculptures of the Middle Ages. In this Adam and Eve are represented as animals, with Eve offering Adam an apple with one hand and with the other she holds the tail of a serpent. This is found near to the double piscina dating from the late 13th century.

The Vestments were introduced into the church in 2006, and were designed by Yvonne Bell a well-known Christian artist and vestment designer.  You can see pictures of our vestments under the Fabric of our church.