Deal 1a

Tuesday 12th May saw our first visit to Deal, starting at the old church of St. Leonard's on the western outskirts of Deal (known as Upper Deal, where the upper people lived) and opposite the ancient Admiral Keppel pub, the admiral presumably having once been a member, at least nominally, of the congregation. Presumably also the first admiral of that name, one Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC.

The church is named for a Frankish saint from the Limousin region of France, venerated on account of prisoners, women in labour and sick cows. Not clear with which of these constituencies this church is particularly connected. The other saint of the name postdates the foundation of the church and is so disqualified from participation.

An old church with the columns in the snap above being old, maybe 11th century, and having been much altered over the years, with the snap being taken from the gallery in the extension added in the early 19th century, the gallery being intended for the use of seafaring folk whose timetable was dictated by the tides rather than by the deity, but who did not want disturb landlubbers at their prayers. Note the organ loft to the right, the altar just peeping out of the chancel on the left and the iron column of the extension, much the same sort of column as was used to hold up the ceiling of many a London gin palace.

Note also the stationary store bottom left, including for some reason a roll of the red and white tape used by the police for marking off forbidden areas.

A variety of interesting stained glass, including that to the main window in the Lady Chapel, a copy of a painting by Guido Reni. Not a proceeding which Pugin would have approved of at all, being a strong believer in the doctrine that stained glass should play to its containing window, rather than play over it.

All in all, an interesting and much-loved church, well worth the visit, despite once having been described by a visiting bishop as 'the most cockeyed church in Christendom'.

We were let in by a pleasant young lady sporting a small gold earring, the daughter of the incumbent. She worked the parish office.