St. Paul's Church, Bedford
Encyclopedia
St Paul's Church is a Church of England
parish church
located on St Paul's Square in the town centre
of Bedford
, Bedfordshire
, England
.
south porch does survive from the original 13th century structure however, and records trace the existence of a previous Collegiate church
on this site as far back as 1066. The Trinity Chapel of the church was first constructed in 1416, with maintenance of the chapel entrusted to the Holy Brotherhood of the Trinity. The church has long standing connections with Sir William Harpur
and Dame Alice Harper, and the Trinity Chapel holds brasses
of the couple. Sir William was the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1562, and his Harpur Trust
(which has a long history of operating independent schools in Bedford) has donated many of the stained glass
windows in the church. Other improvements in the 15th century included Misericords in the chancel and two additional porches. The Trinity Chapel was used as an Archdeacon
’s Court after the English Reformation
.
On May 23, 1656, John Bunyan
, the Christian
preacher and author of "The Pilgrim's Progress
", preached at St. Paul's. John Wesley
, the Anglican cleric and Christian
theologian (also one of the founders of Methodism
) preached the Assize Sermon at the church on 10 March 1758. During the 19th century St Paul’s became a Anglo-Catholic church of the Church of England, where it remains. As a result, the Sisters of Saint Etheldreda began to be associated with the parish from 1869. Architectural work to the church in the 19th century includes the tower and spire, transept
s, choir stalls, chancel and chancel roof.
Early 20th century work to the church includes the Rood screen
(designed by George Frederick Bodley
), the English Altar and altar rails (designed by the Bromsgrove Guild
), and restoration work to the Trinity Chapel (instituted by C. E. Mallows). Many live broadcasts took place from the church between 1941 and the end of World War II
. On one event, a joint mass was celebrated by the Archbishops of Canterbury
and York
, but throughout the period Daily Services were broadcast regularly from the church by the BBC
. The church was also home to a service officiated by Roman Catholic Cardinal
Arthur Hinsley
. Later in the 20th century, from the mid 1970s to 1982, the church was restored and otherwise improved.
for centuries. Currently there are twelve bells, hung for English-style change ringing
. The majority of the bells were cast in 1896–7 to form a new ring of ten to replace the eight that had been in the church since around 1744, one of these original bells was retained as the ninth of the new ten, but was recast in 1945. The bells had been taken out of the tower during the Second World War, in case the church was damaged by bombing (ringing of church bells was forbidden for much of the war, reserved as an alarm in case of invasion), and were rehung in 1945. In 1977, two new bells were added, to give the present twelve, these marked the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
.
Sunday Services
8.00 a.m Said Eucharist (Common Worship Order 2)
10.15 a.m Sung Eucharist (Common Worship Order 1), (Choral first Sunday of the month)
6.30 p.m Evensong (1st Sunday – Taizé/Iona worship), (2nd and 4th Sundays – Choral), (3rd Sunday – Informal Worship)
Weekday Services
Monday: 7.30 a.m. Eucharist
8.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Tuesday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
7.00 p.m. Eucharist
3rd Tuesday - Walsingham Cell
4th Tuesday – With laying on of hands for healing
Wednesday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Noon Eucharist
Thursday: 7.30 a.m. Eucharist
8.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Friday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
9.30 a.m. Eucharist
Saturday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
9.30 a.m. Eucharist
Evening prayer at 5.00 p.m. daily. The church opens every day for private prayer from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
located on St Paul's Square in the town centre
Town centre
The town centre is the term used to refer to the commercial or geographical centre or core area of a town.Town centres are traditionally associated with shopping or retail. They are also the centre of communications with major public transport hubs such as train or bus stations...
of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
Originally constructed in the early 13th century, the present church building has undergone numerous alterations, extensions, rebuilds and restorations since this time. An Early EnglishEnglish Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
south porch does survive from the original 13th century structure however, and records trace the existence of a previous Collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
on this site as far back as 1066. The Trinity Chapel of the church was first constructed in 1416, with maintenance of the chapel entrusted to the Holy Brotherhood of the Trinity. The church has long standing connections with Sir William Harpur
William Harpur
Sir William Harpur was a merchant from Bedford who moved to London, amassed a large fortune, and became Lord Mayor of London. In 1566 he and his wife Dame Alice gave an endowment to support certain charities including education...
and Dame Alice Harper, and the Trinity Chapel holds brasses
Monumental brass
Monumental brass is a species of engraved sepulchral memorial which in the early part of the 13th century began to partially take the place of three-dimensional monuments and effigies carved in stone or wood...
of the couple. Sir William was the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1562, and his Harpur Trust
Harpur Trust
The Bedford Charity is a charity in Bedford, England which is principally concerned with the operation of private schools. The Bedford Charity is the legal name, but it is most often referred to as the Harpur Trust....
(which has a long history of operating independent schools in Bedford) has donated many of the stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows in the church. Other improvements in the 15th century included Misericords in the chancel and two additional porches. The Trinity Chapel was used as an Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
’s Court after the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
.
On May 23, 1656, John Bunyan
John Bunyan
John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Though he was a Reformed Baptist, in the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August, and on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church on 29 August.-Life:In 1628,...
, the Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
preacher and author of "The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been...
", preached at St. Paul's. John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
, the Anglican cleric and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theologian (also one of the founders of Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
) preached the Assize Sermon at the church on 10 March 1758. During the 19th century St Paul’s became a Anglo-Catholic church of the Church of England, where it remains. As a result, the Sisters of Saint Etheldreda began to be associated with the parish from 1869. Architectural work to the church in the 19th century includes the tower and spire, transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
s, choir stalls, chancel and chancel roof.
Early 20th century work to the church includes the Rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
(designed by George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
), the English Altar and altar rails (designed by the Bromsgrove Guild
Bromsgrove Guild
The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts was a company of modern artists and designers associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, founded by Walter Gilbert. The guild worked in metal, wood, plaster, bronze, tapestry, glass and other mediums....
), and restoration work to the Trinity Chapel (instituted by C. E. Mallows). Many live broadcasts took place from the church between 1941 and the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On one event, a joint mass was celebrated by the Archbishops of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
and York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, but throughout the period Daily Services were broadcast regularly from the church by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The church was also home to a service officiated by Roman Catholic Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Arthur Hinsley
Arthur Hinsley
Arthur Hinsley was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1935 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1937.-Biography:...
. Later in the 20th century, from the mid 1970s to 1982, the church was restored and otherwise improved.
Bells
The church has had a ring of bellsRing of bells
"Ring of bells" is a term most often applied to a set of bells hung in the English style, typically for change ringing...
for centuries. Currently there are twelve bells, hung for English-style change ringing
Change ringing
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes". It differs from many other forms of campanology in that no attempt is made to produce a conventional melody....
. The majority of the bells were cast in 1896–7 to form a new ring of ten to replace the eight that had been in the church since around 1744, one of these original bells was retained as the ninth of the new ten, but was recast in 1945. The bells had been taken out of the tower during the Second World War, in case the church was damaged by bombing (ringing of church bells was forbidden for much of the war, reserved as an alarm in case of invasion), and were rehung in 1945. In 1977, two new bells were added, to give the present twelve, these marked the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms...
.
The church today
St Paul's is a busy and active Anglican Parish in the heart of Bedford. The Church is part of the Bedford Council of Faiths and has many links to other churches and community groups.Sunday Services
8.00 a.m Said Eucharist (Common Worship Order 2)
10.15 a.m Sung Eucharist (Common Worship Order 1), (Choral first Sunday of the month)
6.30 p.m Evensong (1st Sunday – Taizé/Iona worship), (2nd and 4th Sundays – Choral), (3rd Sunday – Informal Worship)
Weekday Services
Monday: 7.30 a.m. Eucharist
8.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Tuesday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
7.00 p.m. Eucharist
3rd Tuesday - Walsingham Cell
4th Tuesday – With laying on of hands for healing
Wednesday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Noon Eucharist
Thursday: 7.30 a.m. Eucharist
8.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Friday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
9.30 a.m. Eucharist
Saturday: 9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer
9.30 a.m. Eucharist
Evening prayer at 5.00 p.m. daily. The church opens every day for private prayer from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.