St Peter's Church, Bedford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Peter's Church
The Parish Church of St Peter de Merton with St Cuthbert
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	Saint Peter Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Administration
Deanery	Bedford
Archdeaconry	Bedford
Diocese	St Albans
Province	Canterbury

The Parish Church of St Peter de Merton with St Cuthbert is an Anglican church located on St Peter's Street in the De Parys area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. It is a very old and important building in the local community.

A Look at St Peter's Church History

The place where St Peter's Church stands has been used for Christian worship for over 1,000 years! Imagine how many people have gathered here over the centuries. While the church building you see today isn't that old, some parts of it are incredibly ancient.

How Old Are Parts of the Church?

Even though the first churches here were likely made of wood and are now gone, St Peter's still has some of the oldest building pieces in Bedford. For a long time, special priests called Augustinian Canons, who started Merton Priory in Surrey, helped choose people for jobs at the church. This is why "de Merton" is part of the church's name.

Later, in the 1500s, the King of England took control of many churches during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After this, the English Crown became responsible for St Peter's.

Building Through the Ages

The strong stone tower of the church was built a very long time ago, during Saxon times. You can still see a Saxon arch and doorway inside the tower's east wall.

Later, during the Norman period (after 1066), more parts were added. A beautiful Norman doorway arch, which originally came from another church in Bedford, is now in the south porch.

In the 1200s and 1300s, new features were added to the chancel (the area around the altar). These included the baptismal font (where baptisms happen), a special door for the priest, and new windows. In the 1800s, a copy of an old fenestella (a small opening near the altar) was put into the south wall.

Changes in the 1800s and 1900s

In the 1800s, St Peter's Church became much bigger. Many parts were added or fixed up during a time called the Victorian restoration. These additions included the vestry (a room for clergy), new aisles (sections along the sides), and a west porch. The main part of the church, called the nave, was also made longer.

In the 1900s, more changes happened. Paintings were added to the east wall, and the tower ceiling got new decorations. A special room called the chapter house was built. Also, a beautiful stained glass window was added to honor the Burma Star veterans. In 1974, a nearby church, St. Cuthbert's, closed down. After that, St. Peter's was also dedicated to Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, adding his name to the church's full title.

St Peter's Church Today

St Peter's Church is an active Anglican church right in the middle of Bedford. It works with many other churches and community groups as part of the Bedford Council of Faiths.

The church has a special connection with Bedford School, which is located very close by.

Services and Activities

Church services are held every Sunday morning at 10:15 AM. On the first Sunday of each month, there are extra services at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

If you're interested in morning prayer, it happens on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. Holy Communion is celebrated on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. The church also has a coffee shop that opens on the second Saturday of every month from 10:30 AM for an hour. It's a great place to meet people!

See also

• Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Cuthbert, original site of St. Cuthbert's Parish Church