To the South of the infant Thames, midway between Waterhay ( doesn't that name give a hint of the local landscape) and the village of Leigh, sits the Old Chancel of Leigh All Saints church. The rest of this small 14'th century Wiltshire church was moved in the 1890's further south into the village of Leigh, where it rests on drier foundations.
The Old Chancel is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, and like Inglesham St John provides the visitor with a 'time capsule' from before the victorian restorations. Within the building are a number of well preserved 17'th century scroll paintings featuring texts from the bible.
The chancel sits in the old churchyard which is managed as a nature reserve. Signposted from the minor road junction by Waterhay bridge the chancel is to the east of the small road to Leigh. Accessed either by the track that leads to Upper Waterhay Farm, or perhaps more conveniently from the public footpath across the field just to the north of the farm (where a convenient broad verge opposite a house provides good parking in dry weather). It is a peaceful spot in the summer sunshine.
Photographed in 2011 for theChurchPhotographer by Nick Temple-Fry.
