St Leonard's, Church Watlington

The church has stood here since Norman times, with major building in the 14th and 19th centuries. We open it seven days a week so everyone, whatever their beliefs, can enjoy its beauty and serenity. Step inside and you find a place of peace, uncluttered and airy. In the south aisle, you’ll see a statue of St Leonard, patron saint of prisoners, wreathed in a strand of barbed wire. It’s a sign of a church which looks outwards to the needs of the world, as well as nurturing the spiritual life of its congregation. We constantly renew the building. In 2002 a major renovation included improved lighting, heating and flooring. More recently we added flexible seating, and last year installed up-to-date audio and video facilities and a grand piano. Our next project is to add accessible toilets, a kitchen area, and a sound-proof meeting room which we plan to fund from the sale of our church hall site. St Leonard’s is a wonderful place for worship and prayer, but also for more secular activities. Almost every month it hosts local events – from talent contests and fetes to classical concerts, cabaret, craft fairs, opera performances, harvest suppers and barn dances. It is Watlington’s biggest venue, with excellent acoustics. We want it to enrich the lives of everyone in our community, not just regular worshippers.