Church of St Mary, Linslade facts for kids
The Church of St Mary is a very old and important church in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England. It's so special that it's been given a "Grade I listed" status. This means it's considered a building of great historical interest and importance, and it's protected to make sure it stays around for a long time! It became a listed building on February 20, 1954.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Early Days
Long, long ago, around the 10th century, people visited this spot because of a special "holy well." The very first church here was built in the 12th century. But the church you see today was mostly rebuilt in the 15th century.
Moving Times
In the 1800s, new canals and railways changed how people lived. Many people from the old part of Linslade moved closer to the new railway and canal areas, which are now part of Leighton Buzzard.
In 1868, the bells from the Church of St Mary were moved. They went to a new church called St Barnabas in Linslade, after its tower was finished. The south porch of St Mary's church was also added during repairs in the 1800s.
Modern Additions
On February 20, 1954, the church officially became a Grade I listed building. More recently, in the late 2010s, a small wooden toilet block was built near the church. It's a separate building, close to the south-east wall of the church.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Mary has several main parts. It has a chancel (the area near the altar), a nave (the main part where people sit), a tall west tower, and a south porch (an entrance area).
The chancel is about 24 feet long and 12 feet wide. The nave adds about 45 feet to the length and is 19 feet wide. The tower stands about 35 feet tall, with its base measuring 10 feet by 11 feet.
Porches and Doors
The outer doorway of the porch has a square top with special quatrefoil designs. These are patterns shaped like four-leaf clovers. The south doorway, which leads into the church from the porch, was built in the 15th century. Inside the porch, on the east wall, there's a holy water stoup. This is a small basin for holy water, and it dates back to the 16th century.
There's also a doorway on the north side of the church, but it's now blocked up. This probably happened during repairs around 1897–1898. However, during earlier repairs in 1876, this north doorway was still in use and even had its own porch.
Tower and Bells
You can get to the west tower by a semi-octagonal (half an eight-sided shape) staircase inside the church. This staircase is in the north-east corner of the tower. Remember how the original bells were moved in 1868? Well, after they went to St Barnabas, only one bell was left at the Church of St Mary.
Around the Church
The Church of St Mary is in a great spot! It's less than 100 metres from the Grand Union Canal. The canal was built around the church because the church stands on slightly higher ground.
If you're looking for a place to eat, the nearest pub, The Globe Inn, is about 500 metres to the south-east. You can easily walk there by following the canal. The church is also less than 2 kilometres from the huge Rushmere Country Parks of Heath and Reach to the north. And it's about the same distance from Leighton Buzzard High Street to the south-east.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Bedfordshire
