Bedfordshire Churches
- Map of Historic Churches in Bedfordshire
- Map of ALL Historic Churches in England
- Map of all attractions in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire churches have been unfavourably compared to their neighbours in Northamptonshire, but this is probably a "bad rap"; Bedfordshire has a lot to offer aficionados 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.
An early 13th-century church with a wealth of excellent carving, St George's belonged at one time to St Neot's Priory, which must account for the exceptional quality of the woodwork and carved stone decoration.
Edworth, Bedfordshire, England, SG18 8QX
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Heritage Highlight: 12th century pedestal piscina
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St Michael's Church in the Bedfordshire village of Farndish is an early 13th-century building with the addition of a 15th-century tower. The tower is worth a second look; it was not built onto the exterior of the church as you might expect, but actually built inside the nave.
Farndish, Bedfordshire, England, NN29 7HS
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Heritage Highlight: Early 17th-century memorial brass
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St. Mary's was built between 1220 and 1240 and is a good example of the Early English style. The most interesting external feature is the finely carved and detailed west front. Inside, there is a 15th-century painted oak screen, and fragments of wall paintings, including a 'Doom', or Day of Judgement painting showing the Weighing of Souls.
Felmersham, Bedfordshire, England
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St John the Baptist church in Flitton is famous for the De Gray Mausoleum, brick and stucco chancel built to house memorials to the de Grey family of Wrest Park. The De Greys, Earls of Kent, clearly had a rather elevated idea of their importance, for they built their mausoleum in grand style. The earliest De Grey memorial dates to the 17th century. The mausoleum is managed by English Heritage. The remainder of the church is not without its charm, though it seems stylistically at odds with the mausoleum. It dates primarily from the 15th century, though there has been a church here since the Saxon period. One of the most interesting features is a series of 8 Green Man carvings.
Flitton, Bedfordshire, England
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A small Norman church in meadows near the River Great Ouse, St Denys has a nave, chancel, and an embattled west tower. The most interesting historic feature is the finely carved Norman doorway.
Little Barford, Bedfordshire, England, PE19 6YE
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A small country church built in the 14th century of local ironstone, St Mary's has a 15th-century tower. Unusually for a 14th-century church, we know from documentary sources who built the church and when.
Lower Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England, MK45 4JR
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The first church on this spot dates to at least the early 10th century; certainly, there was a church established before 931 AD. That Saxon building was completely rebuilt in the medieval period and the current St Mary's is largely a 13th-century building. The exterior is made of traditional chequerwork pattern of mixed stone and flint. Cardinal Wolsey was a patron of the church, and the main south door, built in 1530, is known as the Wolsey Door. The 14th-century Wenlock Chapel houses a tomb to William Wenlock (d. 1392).
Church Street, Luton, Bedfordshire, England, LU1 3JF
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At first glance, Potsgrove church might appear Victorian, but looks can be deceiving; the church dates to the 14th century, and incorporates bits of a much earlier Norman church on the site. The nave and chancel are combined into one, with the addition of a south porch.
Potsgrove, Bedfordshire, England, MK17 9HG
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A picturesque Congregational church with a thatched overhang supported by tree trunks!
High Street, Roxton, Bedfordshire, England, MK44 3EA
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St. Peter's church was founded in 1117 on the foundations of an earlier Saxon church, and the current chancel was the nave of the original Saxon church. The founder was Gilbert the Norman, godson of Henry I. The rest of the building is 14th and 15th-century work with Victorian restoration. An 8th-century cross shaft is built into the east doorway to the tower.
St. Peter's Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, MK40 2TR
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