St Leonards Church is the oldest building in the Dale but its history is little known and development since the 14th Century obscure. The church is an important local heritage site valued by the community and much visited by tourists. The churchyard is particularly important because of its associations with the building of the Settle-Carlisle Railway in the 1870's. It is the only community building in the Dale.
The project has three elements, the research and publication of St Leonards Church History, involving the local community in producing documents, photographs and reminiscences, the dating and recording of the architectural features of the Church building and the carrying out of a topographical survey and the repair of gravestones in the graveyard.
The aim of the project is to involve local people in the research and production of heritage material and the Ingleborough Archaeological Society in the survey; to record the Church's history and raise public awareness through a publication; to preserve the gravestones in the churchyard.
A weekend exhibition will be held to show the wider community what has been achieved. Two public history walks and two school visits will be arranged.
