Church of St Peter & St Paul, Flitwick facts for kids

The Church of St Peter & St Paul is a historic Church of England church located in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, England. It serves as the main church for the local community. Because of its age and special features, it was given a "Grade I listed" status on January 23, 1961. This means it's considered a building of great importance and history!

History

How Old Is This Church?

Imagine a very old church! It's believed that a wooden church, and then a stone church from the Saxon times (over 1000 years ago!), might have stood right where this church is now. The church you see today was first built in the 1100s. Later, in the 1300s, a side section called the south aisle was added.

In the late 1400s or early 1500s, the upper windows of the main part of the church (called the nave clerestory) were added. Also, the timber-framed porch, which is like a covered entrance, was built around this time. For many years, monks from a nearby religious house called the Ruxox Cell served as priests for the church. This continued until the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when the head of Dunstable Priory gave up control to the king.

Changes Over the Years

The church has been updated several times. In 1835, some parts were rebuilt. For example, a beautiful old Norman doorway on the north wall of the nave was carefully taken apart and put back together.

Later in the 1800s, more work was done to restore the church. This was part of a trend called "Victorian restoration," where old churches were repaired and updated. During this time, a new roof was put on the chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar.

More recently, in 1983, a new room called the chapter house was added. The church is part of the Diocese of St Albans, which is a larger group of churches in the area.

Architecture

What the Church Looks Like

The Church of St Peter & St Paul is built mostly from a type of stone called ironstone, with smoother stone details called ashlar dressings. Its roofs are made of clay tiles. The church has several main parts:

• The chancel (the area around the altar)
• The nave (the main part where people sit)
• North and south aisles (side sections)
• A south porch (the entrance)
• A vestry (a room often used by the clergy) on the north side.

The tall, three-stage west tower is supported by strong buttresses (supports) and has a top part with a decorative, castle-like edge called an embattled parapet. This tower holds a set of seven bells! Five of these bells are very old, dating all the way back to the 1600s.

Inside the Church

Inside, you'll find a font that is also from the Norman period (the 11th and 12th centuries). It has a round, fluted bowl, which means it has decorative grooves. The pulpit, where sermons are given, was once part of a larger, multi-level structure.

The church also has special memorials. These include plaques that remember the brave men from Flitwick who lost their lives in World War I and World War II.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Bedfordshire