Leek / Lec

There is an entry for this Leek [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SJ9856/leek/] [accessed 4 February 2015], but it mentions neither cleric nor church in it. A font here is illustrated in a sepia drawing of 1844 by John Buckler, in the William Salt Library [www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk] [accessed 26 April 2010]. Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. The font is a plain bucket-shaped basin; Buckler's caption reads: "Old font belonging to Leek Church, Staffordshire. Turned out into the belfry. [JB] 1844". The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (Stafford, vol. 7, 1996) notes: "The first known mention of a church at Leek is in the 13th century. There are, however, remains of pre-Norman crosses on the site, [...] and a church was built perhaps in the late 10th or early 11th century. Its dedication to St. Edward, recorded in 1281, [...] was evidently in use in 1207 when the king confirmed a fair at Leek at the feast of St. Edward. [...] In 1297 'the church of Leek was burnt down together with the whole town'. [...] It is possible, however, that the closely spaced circular piers of the south arcade which survived until the earlier 19th century were 12th-century [...] The church was altered 1839–41 [...] The chancel was rebuilt 1865–7 [...] The side galleries were removed in 1956 [...] In 1837 the archdeacon noted that an old font had been moved into the church from outside. [...] It may have been the predecessor of the font installed in 1739. [...] In 1867 a font was given in memory of John Cruso, and the 18th-century font is said to have been transferred to Kirknewton church in Northumberland [...] There are remains of several pre-Norman crosses in the church and churchyard. The rectangular-shafted cross south of the church was set up there in 1885 after lying for several years in three pieces against the east wall of the churchyard; it has a fragment of a runic inscription and may date from the early 9th century. The round-shafted cross south-east of the church is a particularly fine and well preserved example of its type, dating perhaps from the later 10th century. Inside the church are the remains of the wheel-head of a cross and also a stone from a rectangular shaft with a carving perhaps depicting Christ carrying the Cross or Christ wielding a cross as conqueror of sin." The English Heritage entry for this church [Listing NGR: SJ9832556630] (1951) notes: "Parish church. Parts of the fabric possibly late C13, but substantially later with some C15-C16 work including fenestration of aisles, and 2 C19 restorations, the first by Ewan Christian, then a major restoration and rebuilding of the chancel by Street in 1867. [...] Marble font in S aisle dated 1867; octagonal with heavily recessed panels with inlaid reliefs depicting the baptism and its Old Testament precursors." [NB: Thornber {www.thornber.net] notes the installation of a new font and pulpit in the Church of St. Edward the Confessor in the mid-19th century -- this font not listed on account of its late date] -- The Anglican churches of All Saints and St. Luke are modern, as is the RC St Mary's].