ABOUT THE CHURCH
The Parish Church of Saint Leonard is an early Victorian Grade II listed building in Woore, a small village about fifteen miles west of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is part of the Benefice of St Chad's, Norton-in-Hales and St Leonard's, Woore with Aston in North Shropshire close to the borders of both Cheshire and Staffordshire - in fact 'Woore' means 'place of boundaries'.
It stands near the site of an earlier chapel-of-ease, first recorded in 1552. Its striking white Italianate appearance, designed by George Hamilton of Stone, is quite a surprise as you pass on the road.
The Church was Grade II listed in 1987. The simple, plain open interior will seat approx 250 people. The beautiful East window, representing the Crucifixion, has recently been restored. The stained glass in the north window is by Kempe and Tower, circa 1905. At the entrance to the chancel is a moulded elliptical arch inscribed: "HOLY. HOLY. HOLY. LORD. GOD. ALMIGHTY". The organ is to the right of the chancel arch. There is also an octagonal oak pulpit, circa 1929 and an octagonal stone font dated 1848.
The tower was added to the building in 1910. It was declared unsafe for use in the late 1980s. The bells have been replaced by a timed recording.
The churchyard contains the WWI war grave of William Weston of the North Staffordshire Regiment, who died on 14 October 1918. Curiously, he is listed as Corporal on the War Memorial, but as Private on the War Graves website
The church is open daily to visitors and for prayer. Its members maintain strong and close links with Woore Methodist chapel and a number of joint activities and services are held throughout the year.
ABOUT THE CACHE
The cache is not at the given co-ordinates. Solve the simple formula N52 58.ABC W002 24.DEF to find the cache. The answers can be found from observation at the given waypoints or from information you have to hand. Remember to bring a pen.
A = The third digit of the year the church was Grade II listed.
B = The last digit of the A road on which the church is situated.
C = The last digit of the date of the oak pulpit.
D= The last digit of the telephone number of the Priest-in-Charge.
E = The last digit of the year William Weston died.
F = The number of letter X minus the number of letter V on the clock face.
As requested, the checksum for the sum total of A+B+C+D+E+F = 27.
Congratulations to LiveAndLetCache for first to find.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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