Church-in-the woods is located in Hollington, a suburb of Hastings, in the South of England. Officially it's called the Church of St. Leonard, and it was originally the Church of St. Rumbold.

Now Hollington is a large suburb of Hastings, consisting mainly of houses of post-war buildings, but the Church has been standing here in the woods since the time of its construction – from the XIII century. It replaced existing here in the XI century chapel. When in the early fifteenth century ceased to exist St Leonard's Church in the suburb of Hastings, the name was mistakenly applied to this Church. The name "Church-in-the woods" is known since the mid-nineteenth century. At this time, she was still a parish Church, but was in terrible condition. One time it was believed that demolishing it would be easier than to repair, but the parishioners insisted on retaining the old Church. Reconstruction lasted about 20 years, and the Church acquired a very Victorian look. From the original Norman buildings have been preserved quite a bit. At the Church there is an old cemetery. The first documented burials date back to 1606, and the oldest surviving monument to 1678.

Now Hastings is expanding, the former suburbs become part of the city, there is an active housing construction, but the forest around the Church remains intact. This Church is associated with many legends. For example, he speaks about the conflict of the devil and builders – every night all the day's work was destroyed and the materials disappeared. A disembodied voice informed the builders that this place belongs to the devil, and the Church should be built elsewhere. As shown by the voice of the Church was able to build without problems, and around it immediately grew a dense forest, hiding her whether from the devil or from the laity (the legends say different).