St Paul's Church, Bedford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Paul's Church
St. Paul's Church, Bedford
52°08′07″N 0°28′00″W / 52.1354°N 0.4668°W / 52.1354; -0.4668
OS grid reference	TL0498549678
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic
Churchmanship	Inclusive Anglo-Catholic
Website	http://www.stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Saint Paul
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Administration
Parish	Bedford St Paul
Deanery	Bedford
Archdeaconry	Bedford
Diocese	St Albans
Province	Canterbury

St Paul's Church is a special Church of England building in Bedford, England. It's located right in the town square. This huge church looks a bit like a cathedral and has a famous spire. It's the biggest Anglican church in Bedfordshire.

Thousands of people visit St Paul's every year. It's known as a Major Parish Church. This means it's a very important local church.

St Paul's has played a big part in British history. During World War II, the BBC broadcast daily worship from here. A special prayer service in 1941 was also broadcast worldwide. Today, St Paul's is the main church for the Borough of Bedford and the County of Bedfordshire. It hosts many important events, concerts, and exhibitions. The church also has a wonderful choir and traditional services. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic building.

The History of St Paul's Church

The First Church Building

There is evidence that St Paul's Church was first built a very long time ago. It might have been founded by King Offa around the year 796. King Offa was a powerful ruler. He is believed to have been buried in Bedford. St Paul's Church is thought to be the place where he was laid to rest.

The church was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. This was a big survey of England. It shows that St Paul's was an important church even then. It was a place where priests lived and worked.

Changes Over Time: The Second and Third Churches

For many years, the church's work was interrupted. This was due to invasions by the Danes. They often traveled inland using the river to reach Bedford. In 1009-10, the Danes even destroyed the church during fighting. Old records say they "burnt as they went."

The church building you see today was first built in the early 1200s. Since then, it has been changed and added to many times. A part of the original 13th-century building, the south porch, still stands. Records show there was a church here even before 1066.

The Trinity Chapel was built in 1416. A group called the Holy Brotherhood of the Trinity looked after it. The church has strong ties to Sir William Harpur and Dame Alice Harper. Their brass memorials are in the Trinity Chapel. Sir William was the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1562. His Harpur Trust has given many stained glass windows to the church. This trust runs schools in Bedford.

In the 15th century, more improvements were made. These included special seats called Misericords in the Quire. After the English Reformation, the Trinity Chapel was used as a court.

Many famous people have visited St Paul's. On May 23, 1656, John Bunyan preached there. He wrote the famous book "The Pilgrim's Progress". John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, also preached at the church in 1758.

In the 1800s, St Paul's became an Anglo-Catholic church. This is a certain tradition within the Church of England. In 1864, Reverend Michael Ferrebee Sadler became the vicar. He encouraged Fanny Eagles to become a deaconess. This led to the Sisters of Saint Etheldreda working with the church. During the 1800s, the church's tower, spire, and other parts were also improved.

In the early 1900s, more work was done. This included the Rood screen and the altar. Later, from the mid-1970s to 1982, the church was restored again. In 2014, a new entrance area called a Narthex was added.

St Paul's Church During World War II

St Paul's Church played a very important role during World War II. This was a very difficult time for the United Kingdom.

First, the BBC moved many of its operations out of London to Bedford. The Trinity Chapel in St Paul's was used as a studio. From here, the BBC broadcast the Daily Service and The Epilogue. These broadcasts went out across the UK and Europe. A special message is written on the floor of the chapel to remember this time:

Second, on September 7, 1941, a National Day of Prayer was held. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York came to St Paul's. They led the worship, which was broadcast live to the nation. This service aimed to inspire millions of people. It encouraged them to work for a better world. A wooden panel near the altar remembers this important event. A service led by Cardinal Arthur Hinsley was also held here.

Special Features of St Paul's Church

The Organ

The church has a large organ with three keyboards. It was rebuilt in 2010. Many parts of the organ are from 1900. During the rebuild, the sound of the organ was made brighter. New parts were added, and the number of stops was changed.

The Bells

St Paul's Church has had bells for hundreds of years. Today, there are twelve bells. They are used for a special type of ringing called change ringing. Most of the bells were made in 1896–97. They replaced an older set of eight bells. One of the original bells was kept but was remade in 1945.

The bells were taken out of the tower during World War II. This was to protect them in case the church was bombed. Church bells were not allowed to be rung during much of the war. They were only to be rung as an alarm if an invasion happened. The bells were put back in 1945. In 1977, two new bells were added. This was to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

St Paul's Church Today

The interior of the church

St Paul's is a very busy and active church. It serves the local community in Bedford. It works with three other Anglican churches in the area. The church supports schools and many community groups. It also works with the Lord-Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the county.

St Paul's has a beautiful choir and traditional services. These services are designed to appeal to people of all ages. The church has a team of clergy and lay ministers. They also have a full-time Pastoral Assistant. This person helps people in need and the many visitors. St Paul's is part of the 'Town Centre Churches' group. It also has links to other churches and faith groups. The church is a member of the Major Churches Network.

Weekly Services

St Paul's holds services throughout the week.

• Sunday:
  • 10:15 AM: Parish Eucharist (a sung service with a talk).
  • 5:30 PM: Evening Service (as announced).

• Weekday Services:
  • Monday: 9:00 AM Morning Prayer (online).
  • Tuesday: 9:00 AM Morning Prayer (online); 4:30 PM Evening Prayer.
  • Wednesday: 9:00 AM Morning Prayer (online); 12 Noon Eucharist.
  • Thursday: 9:00 AM Morning Prayer (online).
  • Friday: 9:00 AM Morning Prayer (online); 9:30 AM Eucharist.
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM Morning Prayer; 9:30 AM Eucharist.

The church is open every day for private prayer. You can visit between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

Images for kids

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  St Paul's Church, Bedford

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  The interior of the church