Licence for Mrs Okely’s barn

This is to Certifie whom it may Concern That Thomas Craner of Blunham in the County and Archdeaconry of Bedford and Mathew Basterfield of the Town and Archdeaconry of Bedford aforesaid Tayler have on this sixteenth day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1740 Certified to the Worshipfull Thomas Reynolds Esqr Master of Arts Commissary and Official of the Archdeaconry of Bedford that the Bam of Mrs Anne Okley scituate within the Parish of St Paul in the Town and County of Bedford aforesaid is intended to be made Use of for a place of Publick Worship for Protestants dissenting from the Church of England as by the Act of Toleration made in the first Year of the Reigns of King William and Queen Mary is allowed of Witness my hand the day and Year abovewritten.

William Frank Registrar

[BRO, MO 42]

Licence for the Bedford Chapel

To all to whom this may concern This is to Certify That George Tranker and William Vowell produced and filed a certificate to the Justices of the Peace Assembled at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at the Town of Bedford in and for the said Town on Monday in the first week next after the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel that is to say the first day of October in the Thirty third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. and in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Fifty nine Reciting that in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Fifty two the Chapel situated in the parish of St Peters in the said Town of Bedford was Registered in the Archdeacons Court of the said Town as a place appointed for the Religious Use of those of his Majestys Protestant Subjects known by the name of Unitas Fratrum And that a large Room had since then been Built adjoining to the said Chapel on the East side in the Ministers House on the second story And certifying that the said Room is appointed solely for Religious Uses and as a Vestry Room to the said Chapel

THE BEDFORDSHIRE CHURCHES SERIES

This is to be a series of three volumes covering Bedfordshire churches in the nineteenth century. The volumes will contain descriptions of churches “on the eve of restoration” together with contemporary illustrations –most of which will be published for the first time.

For each church, there will be extracts from original records amplified by a commentary and explanatory footnotes. The main source material consists of:

• 1. Extracts from church inventories – mainly 1822

• 2. Antiquarian notes on churches by Archdeacon Bonney, c.1840

• 3. Archdeacon Bonney’s visitation notebooks 1823-1839

• 4. Articles on churches by W.A. – John Martin, the librarian at Woburn Abbey - 1845-1854

• 5. Church descriptions by Sir Stephen Glynne 1830-1870

There is considerable value in having these key sources, with illustrations and commentary, in one place. The descriptions by Bonney and Glynne are purely factual, but John Martin’s articles, highlighting abuses and neglect, make colourful and at times controversial reading. Bonney’s visitation notes - and the supporting evidence from contemporary records such as churchwardens’ accounts – give a clear indication that church buildings were far from neglected in the opening decades of the nineteenth century. Together these sources document features that can still be seen today, and provide information on others that have been lost.

The aim has been to present the text of contemporary sources in their original state, to convey a feeling for the times as well as to provide information. It is recognised that most of the sources could have been condensed by editing - for instance the lists of registers in the glebe terriers and the quotations in the articles by W.A. – but the Editorial Group felt that they should nevertheless be published in extenso.

The introductory commentary for each church includes a summary of the history of the building, focusing especially on eighteenth and nineteenth century restoration and alterations. These introductory notes are generally brief, but may be longer where differences between present and past external appearance merit detailed discussion. Detailed footnotes explain and amplify features mentioned in the text of the original sources and so lead the reader to additional research material.

The Sources – Introduction

Bedfordshire churches on the eve of restoration are well documented in a number of sources. First, there are a great many pictures of churches by artists such as Thomas Fisher and George Shepherd dating from the early Cl9th. Secondly, there are the manuscript sources which describe the condition of church buildings and ornaments in the years leading up to “the age of restoration”.

These sources are described and discussed in detail below. In outline, however, they include the glebe terriers for 1822 which describe the plan of each church and list the ornaments and furnishings. As Archdeacon of Bedford from 1821 to 1844, Dr. Henry Kaye Bonney compiled two notebooks on the churches in his care. In the one, he made detailed architectural notes on each church and its fittings, and in the other he kept a record of the orders made at his archidiaconal visitations between 1823 and 1839. Another commentator was John Martin, the Librarian at Woburn Abbey, who using the signature W.A. wrote a series of pithy articles on Bedfordshire churches for the Northampton Mercury and Bedfordshire Times between 1845 and 1854. Lastly, there are the notebooks of Sir Stephen Glynne who visited over a third of the churches in the County between 1830 and 1870.

Together these sources provide a colourful image of the appearance, condition and atmosphere of Bedfordshire churches at a time when on the one hand they were nearer their mediaeval state than they are today but when on the other they were arguably in their greatest need of attention.

Glebe Terriers (extracts) 1822

After the Reformation, the ecclesiastical authorities became increasingly aware of the need to keep proper records of church possessions. The documents known as glebe terriers fulfil this purpose, and include terriers (recording property and endowments) and inventories (listing goods and chattels). The existence of such records helped to prevent the loss and misappropriation of church property.

Terriers had been compiled for purely parochial purposes in mediaeval times, but in compliance with an archiepiscopal order or canon of 1571 it became a requirement for copies of these documents to be lodged in diocesan registries for safe-keeping.

Lady Margaret Hastings to Lady Huntingdon

[nd. cl 740]

My Dear Sister

I had Yesterday a Comfortable letter from good Mr Ingham. He tells me that Mr Rogers has been to see him but Made but a very short stay. He preach’d at the Monthly meetings of the Societys at Wakefield and expounded several times. He goes on Courageously. The Works goes wonderfully on at Notingham. Vast Numbers are awaken’d. The beginning of the Week 3 friends came to Osst to see him. Mr Delamotte from Cambridge: an Englishman that has been a bove A Year a mong the Moravian Brethren and one of the Moravian Brethren. He was one of the first that fled out of Moravia to Hemhut: He is a fine Brother that has great Experience in Christ. His Brother is Lord of a Manner in Moravia which would have been his Inheritance if He would have Staid in Moravia and been a Papist but he Counted all things but Dross and dung for Christ Jesus. I believe He will stay with him sometime. He can speak a little English.

Whoever Cares to give anything to the Orphan House at Hemut May send it to John Thorod Esqr. in St James’s place London or to Mr Hutton Bookseller or to Mr How in Notingham and this Brother Will receive it as he returns. You’l find our friends Here when you see them [ ] knows Nothing of what I have here told you. God in his good time will I trust open their Eyes that they may know the things that belong to their peace whch is only to be had in Christ Jesus. When we are united with him all division will cease May be the object of our desires the delight of our souls and the darling of our Hearts now and for ever My Dear Sister Adieu

M.H.

provided there were any little things in Mr Whitfields Journals that were unguarded if they Can Not sing which need Not lessenin take from Him I think.

You’l pay for this I know.

[LRO, Hastings MSS, 14D32/8A/20]

pr. 15 Nov. 1522. (ABP/R 2: 1)

— for their labours 10s.; residue of goods between children by minds of three indifferent honest men —

Witnesses Matthew Colman, Thomas Childerhowse, sir Robert Bisshopp.

Johan Wynne now abiding in Steventon. 28 Aug., pr. 8 Nov. 1522. (2: 2)

Burial in the churchyard of Our Lady in Steventon before the image of St. Kateryn; her mortuary after the custom of the town; to the cathedral church of Lincoln 2d.; to the high altar 12d.; to the rood loft a sheep; for a priest to say mass for the testator's soul each year 4d.; to the Grey Friars of Bedford to be prayed for each year 4d., these payments to be made by son George Wyffe during his lifetime. Son George Wiffe to distribute yearly on Good Friday 8d. to poor people.

Residue to son.

Executors son George Wyffe and son-in-law Henry Parker. Witnesses John Walgrave, William Tawer, John Bak—.

William Cobbe/Cobb senior of Schernebroke. 14 Oct., pr. 25 Oct. 1522. (2: 3)

Burial in church of St. Peter in Scharnbroke for which 6s. 8d. to the church; his mortuary as customary; to the mother church of Lincoln 6d.; to high altar of the parish church for tithes forgotten 2s.; to the bells 2s.; to the sepulchre light 2s.; to the torches 2s.; to Our Lady's light 12d.; to the rood light 12d.; to the church of Bletsow 3s. and to the high altar of same 4d.; to Felmersham church 3s. and to the high altar 4d.; to Knottyng church 6s. 8d. and to the high altar 4d.; to Soldroppe church 3s. and to the high altar 4d.; to Wodell (Odell) church 3s. and to the high altar 4d.; to Wemington church 3s. 4d.; he wishes a priest to sing for one year in the parish church of Schernebroke for the souls of himself, his wife, his father and mother; to the friars of Bedford for a trental 10s..

To Clenyogges bridge 20d.; to Harwold bridge 2 bushels of barley; to Stafford bridge 2 bushels of barley.

If the parish of Schernebroke will begin again the brotherhood of the Trinity then it is to have 6s. 8d..

To his wife Alys all lands, tenements, meadows and pastures in the parishes of Scharnebroke, Bletsowe and Felmersham for life, reversion to son William and his heirs and assigns for ever.

An Account of the Single Sisters, c. 1745

Sister Hensen is a good heart she hes a deep feling of her nature and what a sinner she is and she loves our saviour and the brethren too and will be a pritty sister. 1.

Sister Stone is given to be prowed at the Grace our saviour bestoes on her but she is senseble of it and becomes a sinner before our lamb She loves our saviour too and the brethren to she will be once a very dear heart and a prety sister.2.

Sister Jurden feleels her self a sinner and resones about it and so gets dark and Cloudey by times and well not simply belive in our saviour but at the bottom she loves our lamb and the brethren I love her very much.3.

Sister Brandman loves our saviour and the brethren but she hes a little of the old desenting spirit in her still thinks she must be down sum times and again thinks she must wait the Lords time I love her and wish all these old things may be put far from her heart.4.

Sister Ch[e]rrey is very broken and melted at our saviours love to her and allways thinks herself so unwor[th]ey of the least mercy she is a simple heart and is much blest and will be a pretey sister she loves the brethren.5.

Sister Green is as she is sum Times op and sum Times down she is proud and thinks she could do much for our saviour and go a grreat way for him but hear she will not lose any of her self will nor be made happey by our saviour I am often grev’d for her that she still abides by those things and will not come to her heart.6.

Sister Witten is in a prittey way and seems to get a more melted heart tords our saviour She often thanks our lamb for bringen her out of the world and plased her amongst his children with flowing eyes she will be a prittey sister.7.

The records of the Bedford Moravian Church, now deposited in the Bedfordshire Record Office (catalogue reference MO), are of very great importance for two reasons. In a denomination which has produced more records of its activities than any other in Britain, Bedford has probably preserved more than any other congregation. It has multiple diaries for the first few years, early diaries for two of the choir houses, and copies of many of the documents (diaries, journals and accounts) which were circulated between the congregations in the eighteenth century. Since a large quantity of Moravian records were destroyed or damaged when their Fetter Lane chapel in London was bombed in World War II, Bedford holds information about the affairs of the British Province which are no longer available elsewhere.

In addition to this, Bedford has the distinction of being the first Moravian settlement established in Britain and the first congregation outside London. Since these were new departures for the Moravian Brethren – a congregation of converts from other Protestant churches and a settlement in a country where such were unknown – it involved decisions and compromises which can be traced in the Bedford records. Bedford provided a pattern for future developments in Britain.

The process of selecting records to be printed in this volume has been difficult. Much has had to be omitted which is of interest and value. It is fortunate that the registers, now in the Public Record Office, and the early lists of members have already been transcribed by the Bedfordshire Record Office, making it unnecessary to print them here. However, there still remain many early records, minutes and congregation diaries in particular, which would merit publication.

The criteria for publication here have been to provide information about the foundation of the congregation in 1745 and the events which led up to it, and to provide specimens of the different types of records which may be found in the eighteenth century archives of the Brethren. Neither has been previously attempted. Earlier historians have reproduced the legend of the smallpox epidemic, often with embellishments of their own and completely ignored the Baptist period of the Bedford society.

AMPTHILL

Although the present church dates chiefly from the Cl4th and Cl5th, the foundations of the Cl2th church were discovered during excavations in 1975. The later church has a chancel, nave with north and south aisles, south porch and west tower. It retains its Cl5th roof with angels and shields (though the painted decoration is modem) and there is a ceilure above the former rood.

In 1696 a private pew was constructed for Lord Ashbumham of Ampthill Park in the south aisle of the church. Sir Christopher Wren and his pupil Nicholas Hawksmoor were involved in the design, and the pew was built by Alexander Fort, the King’s joiner. There was a heated legal dispute between Lord Ashburnham and Lord Ailesbury of Houghton House about this pew, which was eventually removed in 1847. The entrance through the east wall of the south aisle is shown in Buckler’s drawing dated 1835 (Plate 2). Lord Ailesbury had his own pew in the church, and there are faculties and papers regarding other Cl8th pews. In 1827 Boissier described the church as “crowded with pews & galleries”. Between 1823 and 1839 Bonney ordered several improvements to the pews, and in 1845 W.A. was highly critical of the arrangement of the church interior.

A faculty was obtained in 1728 to replace the pulpit, take down the chancel screen, and alter various windows. It was probably at this date that the pulpit was placed centrally in the chancel arch where it remained until 1847. Other repairs and alterations in the Cl8th and early Cl9th are recorded in the churchwardens’ accounts from 1718, vestry minutes from 1767, and churchwardens bills from 1823 (listed individually by Andrew Underwood) in the parish records.

Restoration came in 1847-8 under James Tacy Wing of Bedford, who provided new seats and galleries in the nave (Plate 3) and renewed the east window, repaired the roof and stonework, and added a small vestry on the north side of the chancel. In 1851-2 the church was lit by gas.

The tracery of the windows in the south aisle was renewed in 1872-3. Further work followed in 1877 when the vestry on the north side of the chancel was enlarged under James Piers St. Aubyn, although not all the work authorised by the faculty was carried out.

The parish churches of England are among the most noble and conspicuous of the nation’s architectural monuments. Their survival, however, owes more to chance than to good stewardship. Neglect, decay, and deliberate destruction are as much a part of their history as the work of dedicated benefactors and parishioners who strove to make our churches worthy for Christian worship.

As the sources selected for inclusion in this series demonstrate all too clearly, many Bedfordshire churches were in a dilapidated state in the opening decades of the nineteenth century. Others, whilst structurally sound and decently furnished for the worship of the day, needed “restoration” – a term meaning much more than just repair. This was the situation facing the Victorians who – far from vandalising our heritage – sought to restore these precious buildings from years of neglect and adapt them to suit the new liturgical arrangements of the time.

The coming of the ecclesiological movement in the 1840s brought a new concern for the ceremonial aspects of worship – the ministry of the sacraments instead of the ministry of the word. This entailed a change in the arrangement of church buildings, the old “preaching boxes” of the Cl8th giving way to churches in which all attention focused on the chancel and the holy table in the sanctuary. The reformers often exaggerated the poor state of church buildings as a means of drawing attention to the need for change, and the Victorians were invariably critical of alterations and repairs carried out in previous centuries when utility had been regarded as more important than sanctity.

Between about 1840 and 1914 virtually every parish church in England was in some measure restored, and vast sums of money were spent on what was seen to be one of the most worthy causes of the Victorian era. Many churches were rescued from the brink of collapse and given a new lease of life. Some were restored to their former glory. Others were mutilated beyond recognition or wholly rebuilt. Churches viewed by the Victorians as “tainted by classical alterations” were gothicised. Sound buildings were “improved” to suit the needs of a new religious age.

Extract of the Journal of the little Congregation of Sinners at Bedford being a Branch of the Congregation of our dear Lamb in London beginning October 27th 1744 being the Day on which our dear Brethren Rogers, Woodham and Sister Odell were received into the Congregation of the Lamb.

Read at the Night-Watch 31 December 1745.

NOVEMBER [1744]

[202] Br Rogers returned from London to Bedford after a Stay there from October 22d to the 2d of this Inst, during which Time he had the Blessing of being received into the Congregation, and filled with much Shame and Humiliation.

3d. Br Rogers visited the Souls at Bedford, and found, that they had been much blessed in his Absence.

5th From this Time Br Knolton and Rogers visited here and there, and found many very chearful and happy. Our Saviour blesses the Souls indeed, and Br Rogers believes, that he is fitting them for his own Purposes.

7th. Br Holland came from London to visit us, and Br R. and Knolton went with him the 8th 9th and 10th visiting all the People at Places appointed for them to come together, which we did in Choirs and many were blessed and happy. In short, a new [203] Period of Grace then began among the Souls.

11th. Br Holland preached twice with a Blessing.

12th. We visited with Br Holland at Thurly, Risely, and Tilbrooke with a Blessing. Many being got together at Risely, Br Holland gave out a Hymn, and Br Rogers and Knolton preached to them with a particular Blessing. We accompanied Br Holland on his Way to Yorkshire and came to Kettering the same night at 12 o’clock.

13th. Br Rogers was kindly saluted and spoke to by a young Clergyman at Kettering. We went forward with Br Holland to Market Harborough, where we parted with great Love and Tenderness. Knolton and Rogers returned the same Day by Way of Northampton, where they heard one of Mr Whitefield’s Preachers, Pew by Name.

Churches remaining “unrestored” in appearance are to be seen at Chaigrave, Dean, Knotting, Odell, Shelton and Wymington (to name a few of the more rewarding examples in the County), but sadly the phrase “over restored” is all too common in the Bedfordshire volume of Dr. Nikolaus Pevsner’s Buildings of England series.

A brief general survey of post-Reformation church work in the County will be useful as an introduction to the subject. It seems sensible to frame the review round the work of architects - the designers of buildings and of furnishing schemes - who worked at different periods and in different styles. In this way, it is possible to view the changes in ecclesiastical taste in the County in their broader national context.

Post-Reformation church building to 1800

In general terms, church building activity came to an abrupt end at the time of the Reformation. There are, however, exceptions and recent studies in the neighbouring county of Huntingdonshire have demonstrated the extent of building work and improvements to churches into the seventeenth century. This may be untypical of the general picture, and Bedfordshire lacks any particularly distinguished examples of churches dating from the period between 1550 and 1800. Those mentioned below are all relatively minor when compared with the treasures in neighbouring counties, such as:

In Bedfordshire, Hulcote church was rebuilt by the Chemocke family in the late sixteenth century. It is gothic in form, but with a distinctly Renaissance feel. The tower at Blunham was rebuilt in 1583. At Odell there is a fine screen and ringing gallery of 1637 in the tower arch. At Campton, the north aisle dates from 1649. Whipsnade church was rebuilt in 1719. Melchboume has a seventeenthcentury porch brought, it is said, from Woodford in Northamptonshire. The body of the church was rebuilt in the classical style in about 1770. Shillington tower, destroyed in a storm in 1701, was rebuilt in brick in 1750. The 1783 black basalt Wedgwood font at Cardington - another formerly existed at Melchboume - is a particularly memorable example of eighteenth-century church furnishing. In every one of these cases the identity of the architect is unknown.