A profile of Bedfordshire, England, highlighting attractions, history, and visitor information.
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Churches in Bedfordshire, England A profile of Bedfordshire, England, highlighting attractions, history, and visitor information. |
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Bedfordshire ChurchesThis page All Saints, Chalgrave - Edworth, St George's Church
Bedfordshire churches have been unfavourably compared to their neighbours in Northamptonshire, but this is probably a "bad rap"; Bedfordshire has a lot to offer afficionados of church architecture. There really isn't such a thing as a "typical" Bedfordshire church; in the south many are built of flint, but the most common material is ironstone (carstone), which imparts a dark, sometimes grim look. Anglo-Saxon work has survived in several churches, notably Turvey and St. Peter's, Bedford. Excellent early Norman monastic churches survive at Dunstable and Elstow. Several much later buildings are worth noting, such as the thatched Congregational church at Roxton, and Victorian Gothic structures at Woburn and Turvey. Finally, it is impossible to speak of Bedfordshire churches without mentioning John Bunyan, who received his spiritual "wake-up call" at St. Paul's. Bedford, and regularly attended Elstow church where he delighted in ringing the bells. Chalgrave 
All Saints, ChalgraveAll Saints is notable primarily for its excellent medieval wall paintings. The oldest - at the west end of the aisles - date to the late 13th century, and are thought to represent the 12 apostles. Each apostle is portrayed life sized, with a covering canopy. Heritage Rating: Leighton Buzzard 
All Saints, Leighton BuzzardThe 13th century edifice of All Saints Church is the second church to stand on this site. The most striking part of the church as you approach it is the spire, which juts upward to a height of 190 feet. On the south west pier is carved a depiction of a woman waving a spoon at a man. These figures may represent an elderly couple, Simon and Nellie, supposed originators of the Simnel cake. Heritage Rating: Turvey 
All Saints, TurveyRemnants of an older Saxon church can still be seen in the structure of medieval All Saints, a spacious church set beside Turvey House. Heritage Rating: Bedford 
Bedford School ChapelAn Edwardian Gothic chapel built in 1907 and designed by GF Bodley in red brick. Bodley himself died before the chapel was finished, so the work was finished by his assistant Cecil Hare. Heritage Rating: Bedford 
Bedford, St John the Baptist ChurchSt John the Baptist church in Bedford is known for its association with John Bunyan. It was in this church in 1653 that Bunyan converted to his own radical religious views. The 13th century church was originally the chapel of the nearby Hospital of St John. Heritage Rating: Bedford 
Bedford, St Mary's ChurchAn early Norman church with extensive rebuilding in the 14th century. St Mary's was for many years the parish church of Bedford, but it is no longer used for worship and is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. Heritage Rating: Bedford 
Bedford, St. Paul ChurchSt Paul's is a mix of old and new. The 'old' is 12th century, in the form of stonework brought here from Newnham Abbey. The founder of Newnham Abbey was Simon de Beauchamp (d. 1208) whose tomb is within the church. St Paul's is best described as a 'hall church' and the style is mostly Perpendicular Gothic, with considerable rebuilding in the Victorian period. Heritage Rating: Dunstable 
Dunstable PriorySt Peter's, Dunstable (more commonly known as Dunstable Priory) is one of the best examples of Norman church architecture in England. Henry I founded an Augustinian priory at Dunstable In 1131. In 1533 Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine of Aragon was officially annulled at the Priory. Shortly after, the priory was disbanded by Henry in his Dissolution of the Monasteries. However, St Peter's avoided destruction as parts of it were put to use as the local parish church. Heritage Rating: Eaton Bray 
Eaton Bray, St Mary the Virgin ChurchSt Mary's church was built about 1200 by the local lord, William de Cantelou (or Cantilupe). That Norman building has been altered considerably over the years, particularly in the late 15th century, whe the manor of Eaton passed to Reginald de Bray, a follower of Henry VII. Bray is supposed to be the man who placed Richard III's crown on Henry's head after it was found on a bush at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Whether that piece of lore is historically accurae is open to debate, but what is certain is that Bray created a lovely Perpendicular church. Heritage Rating: Edworth 
Edworth, St George's ChurchAn early 13th century church with a wealth of excellent carving, St George's belonged at one time to St Neot's Priory. The church wwas begun about 1200, and the chancel and side aisles were added about a century later. Heritage Rating: |
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HISTORY CORNERName the Historic attractionBritish Heritage AwardsCelebrate the best of British Heritage in our annual British History QuizThis Day in British History19 May, 1536 Anne Boleyn beheaded Queen Anne was executed on Tower Green, saving her the spectacle of a more public execution. Monarch Mayhem
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