Pitcombe has been assocated with Bruton, Shepton Montague,Brewham,Wyke Champflower and Redlynch for more than 1000 years. The association was formalised by the establishment of the Augustinian Priory (to become and Abbey in 1524) in Bruton in 1142 and is perpetuiated in the Benefice of Bruton to this day.
The present church dates from the turn of the 14th century but, of that building, only the tower remains, with the armorial shields of the Luttrell and Zouche families set into the west window. The Norman font, some 17th century benches and the cross in the churchyard with lions’ feet are all noteworthy.
The medieval church was replaced in the 1850’s, although a watercolour of 1842 shows a serviceable building with a nave characterised by a hipped roof at it's east end and a two-storey south porch all tiled.
The new church’s main claim to architectural fame is that it's nave and the surrounding buildings and structures are early examples of the work of G E Street, then aged 30, who later designed the Law Courts in the Strand. Street’s original drawings for the church dated 1857, which are especially notable for the details of the interior, are still in the possession of the PCC. The east window (by M & A O’Connor 1859) shows St Leonard, the patron saint of prisoners.
In 2007/8, with the help of a grant from English Heritage, the roofs were recovered with welsh slates identical in size and colour to the original (Street) design. Lightning conductors were installed and the rainwater drains renewed. A sound system was also installed.
The church is affiliated to the Prayer Book Society and it's services are conducted in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer 1662, of which part of he Preface reads:
“It hath been the wisdom of the Church of England, ever since the first compiling of her Publick Liturgy, to keep the mean between the two extremes of too much stiffness in refusing and of too much easiness in admitting any variation from it.”
St Leonard’s is open from 10 till 4 on Saturdays between 1st April and 31st October and at any other time by contacting a churchwarden.
Regular services are as follows:
1st Sunday in the month: Matins at 9.30 a.m.
2nd Sunday in the month: Holy Communion 11.00 a.m.
3rd Sunday in the month: Service jointly with
Lamyatt and Wyke Champflower 9.30 a.m.
4th Sunday in the month: Holy Communion 11.00 a.m.
5th Sunday in the month: Evensong 6.30 p.m.
Welcome to Bruton
An Ancient Somerset Town