St Mary's Church, Woburn Explained

St Mary’s Church, Woburn
Coordinates:51.9897°N -0.6174°W
Location:Park Street, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9PG
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Website:woburnparishchurch.org.uk
Founder:8th Duke of Bedford
Dedication:St Mary the Virgin
Consecrated Date:23 September 1868
Architect:Henry Clutton
Construction Cost:£30,000 .
Length:148feet
Width Nave:64feet
Height:61feet
Parish:Woburn
Deanery:Ampthill and Shefford[1]
Archdeaconry:Bedford
Diocese:St Albans
Province:Canterbury

St Mary's Church, Woburn, is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England[2] in Woburn, Bedfordshire.

History

The church, on Park Street, Woburn, was built to the designs of the architect Henry Clutton between 1865 and 1868 and paid for by William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford. It replaced the old parish church in the town which, except for the tower, was demolished when the new church opened.

The tower was equipped with a monster bell (said to be the largest in a parish church at the time) of 55 cwt (6160lb), cast in C by Mears and Stainbank of London.[3]

On opening the church tower was surmounted by a spire which reached to a height of 181 ft. This was itself crowned with a copper cross at its summit, which took the total height to 195feet. However, structural problems caused the removal of the spire in 1890.

The church was consecrated on 23 September 1868 by the Rt. Revd. Harold Browne, Bishop of Ely.

The east window was inserted in 1894 as a memorial to George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford and is by Charles Eamer Kempe.

Organ

The original organ of 1868 by T.J. Robson was replaced in 1904 be a new instrument by Norman and Beard. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Mary, Woburn . . A Church Near You . The Church of England. 11 December 2016 .
  2. Book: Pevsner, Nikolaus . 1966. The Buildings of England. Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Peterborough. Yale University Press. 9780300095814.
  3. News: . Woburn, Consecration of the New Church . Bedfordshire Mercury . British Newspaper Archive . 26 September 1868 . 11 December 2016 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .