The parish of Heston has existed since 1229 and was part of the medieval manor of Isleworth. It was surrendered to Henry the VIII at the disillusion of the monasteries and became the chosen supply area of grain and flour to the royal household.
In 1865 Heston church consisted of an aisled nave, chancel, north and south chapels, west tower, west and south porches, and a north porch then used as a vestry. There was apparently a Norman arch in the chancel and other parts of the building dated from the 13th century, but most of it seems to have been of the late 15th century. In 1865 the building was in bad repair and was considered too small, while the lowness of the chancel arch was said to impede the voice during communion services. The chancel arch was also partly blocked by a three-decker pulpit, while high pews stretched through the arch into the chancel.
The Church apart from the tower, was rebuilt to the designs of Thomas Bellamy. It is built of ragstone, mainly in the Decorated style and on the same general plan as the old church except for an additional north aisle. Efforts were evidently made to perpetuate some of the original features, including the separate gabled roofs of the chancel and chapels at the east end.. The tower is square and four storied with an embattled parapet. The west door and the stoup beside it, like the tower, are of the 15th century.
The lych-gate is an earlier 19th-century reconstruction from materials of the 15th or early 16th century. There are a number of monuments of which the earliest is a floor-slab to Thomas Bownell (vicar 1560-70). Among the others is one to Robert Child (d. 1782), signed by Robert Adam and P. M. van Gelder.
Naturalist Sir Joseph Banks (1743–1820) was laid to rest at St Leonard's Church.
The grave of Private Frederick John White, who was flogged to death at Hounslow Barracks in 1846, can be found in the graveyard. The outcry at the manner of his death brought about a reduction in the maximum number of lashings that could be given as punishment, and eventually the banning of the practice altogether.
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