Church of St Leonard the Less, Samlesbury

St Leonard the Less, Samlesbury
St Leonard the Less, Samlesbury Location in the Borough of South Ribble
Coordinates: 53°46′05″N 2°37′25″W / 53.7680°N 2.6237°W / 53.7680; -2.6237
OS grid reference	SD 5898430362
Location	Samlesbury, Lancashire
Denomination	Anglican
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	11 November 1966 (1966-11-11)
Administration
Deanery	Leyland
Archdeaconry	Blackburn
Diocese	Blackburn
Province	York

The Church of St Leonard the Less is an Anglican church in the village of Samlesbury, Lancashire, England, situated close to the banks of the River Ribble. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn. It dates predominantly from 1558, with a tower added 1899–1900, and is protected as a Grade I listed building.

There has been a church (or chapel) on the site since the 12th century, traces of which can be seen in the present structure. The chapel may have been rebuilt in the 14th century. It was substantially rebuilt in 1558, by Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby and was restored in 1885. The tower was added in 1899–1900 by James Bertwistle of Blackburn. The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 11 November 1966.

St Leonard's is constructed of yellow sandstone, with older parts in red sandstone, and stone slate roofs. Its plan consists of a clerestoried nave and chancel under one roof with aisles to the north and south, and a tower to the north-west. The 19th century east window is a three lights window with a pointed head. The west window (perhaps also 19th century) has a pointed arch with three pointed lights and crossed mullions. Most of the remaining windows are square-headed with three rounded lights.

The tower is ashlar. It has diagonal buttresses and a crenellated parapet. It has a turret with a spiral staircase. There is a clock on the west wall and belfry louvres on all walls.