England
Bedfordshire

St. John the Baptist, Flitton

Flitton is really two distinct structures rolled into one. The familiar nave, tower, and aisles are there, built of brown sandstone. Added to this structure is the oddly white stucco chancel, built as a mausoleum for the de Grey family, Earls of Kent. The de Grey's lived at nearby Wrest Park, and the mausoleum contains memorials dating to the early 17th century.

The "ordinary church" is mid to late 15th century, with a three bay nave and narrow supporting pillars, and is topped by an Perpendicular tower. There are early brasses in the nave and north aisle.

The de Grey mausoleum is behind a set of wrought-iron gates. The earliest monument is to Henry Gray (d 1545), but more remarkable are the later effigies in white marble of Henry, ninth Earl (1651) and his wife Amabella (1658). The largest monument is to Henry, Duke of Kent (d 1740) and his two wives. The Duke is portrayed in Roman dress, as is Anthony de Grey, Earl of Harrold (1726). The south transept of the mausoleum contains the later (Victorian) de Grey monuments.

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