Renown metaphysical poet and hymn writer George Herbert was Prebend of St Mary's Leighton Bromswold and helped to fund its rebuilding in the mid 17th Century.  Herbert’s highly esteemed poems were predominantly spiritual and sprung from his deep, pure faith.  Humbly, at the end of his life, he left his poems with a friend, Nicholas Ferrar, to burn or keep if they “might turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul”. They were published in a book entitled “The Temple.”  Herbert’s poems display great ingenuity and metrical agility. The Altar and Easter Wings demonstrate innovative formatting. Easter Wings illustrates visually our decline when being self-reliant and potential for growth when eliciting God’s help.

  We have erected a board to celebrate his life and contribution both to St Mary's and English literature. The board was funded by the George Herbert Society and can be viewed towards the back of the nave. the church is opened daily through daylight hours.