North Leverton
St Martin

Features and Fittings

Chancel

Altar

Made of oak it was described as 'massive' in the 1888 terrier. There is no sign of the retable also mentioned. The altar has curtains on three rods along its length: each rod having a brass fleur de lys at either end. The altar was installed after the 1878 restoration.

Stone Shelf

Behind the altar and running the length of it probably the shelf supporting a retable (such is referred to in the 1888 terrier) or an earlier reredos.

Cross

Made of brass with ornamentation it stands on the altar at services. A commemoration engraved on it reads:

THIS CROSS IS DEDICATED TO GOD AND TO THE PRECIOUS MEMORY OF
ADA BEATRICE VICTORIA RADLEY, ASHTON UNDER-LYNE WHO
ENTERED THE PARADISE OF GOD JULY 30TH 1869 AGED 10 YEARS.

Bible Stand

Made also of brass it is on the altar during services. It has an engraved commemoration which reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
PONTINE HARRIET BAILEY
JANUARY 1927

Recess

With ogee head (matching that of the north doorway) it is in the north wall of the sanctuary. It has no door but was possibly an aumbry or almery although rather narrow, or perhaps for a statue.

Piscina

Piscina

In the south wall of the sanctuary is what appears to be a piscina which has a lower and wider ogee arch than the north wall recess. In the 1888 terrier it is described as a credence and indeed has a stone shelf protruding from the niche. This modification may have occurred during the 1847 restoration of the chancel or earlier.

Blocked Door

Blocked door in
the sanctuary

There is a blocked door in the an ogee head in the north wall of the sanctuary.

Door

A slightly arched door, which is not blocked, in the south wall of the sanctuary. Externally it has an ogee arch; evidently a priest's doorway.

Plaques

On the south wall of the sanctuary there is a plaque that reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
CANON R J WAGSTAFF
VICAR OF THIS PARISH 1931
THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE EXTENSION
OF THE CHURCHYARD CARRIED OUT AS A TOKEN
OF GRATITUDE BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH

On the north wall of the sanctuary there is a plaque that reads:

THE ELECTRIC INSTALLATION
IN THIS CHURCH
WAS PRESENTED BY
MRS S OXLEY
WELHAM PARK RETFORD
SEPT 1937

Communion Rails

They stand on four wrought iron legs (two each side) with a decorative feature in the centre. The opening left in the middle by the absence of a gate has been overcome by a sliding rail which crosses the centre and closes the gap. This was presented by Mrs Crookes, the present churchwarden, in memory of her parents. It bears a brass plate:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MARGARET AND OSWALD MORTON
1908-1994                   1907-1998

Choir Stalls

Choir stalls

They are high-backed along north and south sides of the chancel being one row only on either side with a long reading bench each.

Bible

Formerly used on the lectern which is in memory of Dorothy Needham (d. 1976) who was headmistress of the village school from 1925-58.

Nave

Panelling

It runs along the entire north wall reaching up to the base of the windows.

Pulpit

Pulpit Lectern

Of the 'wrap round' kind and made of pine, it is at the north east end of the nave on a base with two steps leading up. The base is possibly much older than the present pulpit.

Lectern

Made of brass it stands at the entrance to the chancel on the south side and is approximately 5’ high. It bears an inscription:

To the glory of God and in memory of
Rev. H I Bailey 26 years vicar of this parish
The gift of friends                    Easter 1874

Font

Font

At the rear of the church on the south side of the nave and close to the vestry screen, it stands on a large stone base surmounted by a smaller plinth. This is covered by a marble-like surface. It is tub shaped with a cross carved on the bowl and clearly of 19th-century date. The cover is of oak. This is from the 1878 restoration.

In the 1864 terrier ‘a font lined with lead and its bason’ (sic) is mentioned but unfortunately no conclusive evidence is given of its type to help us identify if it was the original from the earliest days of the church.

Litany Desk

Made of wood and with folding kneeler it stands towards the back of the nave aisle. It bears a small brass commemoration plate affixed to the south side which reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
ND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
EDWARD VICTOR KEETON
AGED 15 YEARS
THOMAS & EMMA KEETON
SEPTEMBER 1931

Tower Recess

Enclosed by a screen at the west end of the nave and used as a vestry. The screen was erected in 1928 to commemorate the Rev. Hammond Robertson Bailey. A brass plate reads:

To the Glory of God and in loving memory of
the Rev. Hammond Robertson Bailey and
His wife Pontine Harriet Bailey
1928                HAB

South Aisle

Altar

This is a wooden table kept prepared for service. It is backed by curtains along its eastern length with two curtains on short rods flanking the altar on either side. The rods have small candle-holders on the ends.

Cross

Made of brass it has an engraved commemoration which reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
WILLIAM AND EMMA NEEDHAM
THE GIFT OF THOMAS & EMMA KEETON
SEPT. 1931

Prayer Desk

Made of wood and approximately 4’ high. On it there is a brass plate with an inscription in Gothic script:

To the Glory of God and in
Memory of Rev. H Ives-Bailey
26 years vicar of this parish
The gift of friends Easter 1874

The Rev H. Ives-Bailey and several of his family lie buried in the churchyard. In 1835 he wrote 'The Liturgy Compared With The Bible,' copies of which are still for sale in antiquarian bookshops. He was vicar of this parish from 1844-70.

Piscina

Only the remains with no bowl or drainage.

Bracket

On the east wall and meant for a statue, but now empty.

Tiles

Along the perimeter of the east wall and for a short length of the south wall are terracotta plain and black diamond tiles visible which may be part of the earlier flooring. They are similar to the flooring tiles in the porch.