St Leonard's Newland, Chapel of the Beauchamp Community

Church Opening Times

The church is open to all every Sunday. Holy Communion is at 8 a.m. and Sung Eucharist at 11 a.m. Details of all other services can be found here and the St. Leonard's web site. http://stleonardsnewland.org  Visitors are welcome throughout the week by appointment. Please telephone either the Administrator of the Beauchamp Community or the Publicity Officer to make arrangements to visit, or come along to one of the services where you will receive a warm welcome.

The current Chaplain to the Beauchamp Community is Fr Roger Watson. There are other retired priests living in the Community who assist as and when they feel they are able. An appreciation of the importance of prayer and the ancient traditions of Christian worship within the Church of England inspires all of our services, from a quiet weekday Communion in the Cloister Chapel to the full splendour of the Sung Eucharist on a Sunday morning. We remain committed to preaching the Word of God and ministering His Sacraments to all who desire them, and we hope you will join us in this mission.

As you enter the church

The church is entirely decorated in a medium known as spirit fresco to an elaborate scheme – it is indeed a sight to behold. We believe that this is the finest example of the Gambier Parry style of painting in the country.

Ancient History

There are remnants of the former church – the cloister chapel – which is the half-timbered chancel from the old church that was on this site used for worship until 1864. It dates from the fourteenth century. There are old pews at the back of the church and the font, which is even older (twelfth century), moved from St. Thomas's church at Great Malvern after the Reformation in 1536.

Music for the Services

St. Leonard's Choir, under the direction of Charles Allsopp, sing at all the main services in the church. The choir are always looking for more singers - particularly at this time as we build up our repertoire for the church's 150th Anniversary Celebrations. We alternate singable settings of the services according to the seasons. Please contact Charles Allsopp, Organist and Choirmaster, for more details. There is a fine little organ, by John Nicholson of Worcester (1864).

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