Church of All Saints, Campton

The Church of All Saints is the Anglican parish church in the village of Campton, Shefford, Bedfordshire, England. Its official title is Campton and Chicksands Parish^[2] and encompasses the villages of Campton and Chicksands and the nearby military base,^[3] despite the base having its own church dedicated to Saint Gilbert of Sempringham. The military church is a non-denominational church, so it is not a part of the Anglican parish.^[4]

The building has been Grade II* listed since 1966.^[5]

History

The church dates back to the 13th Century and was originally constructed from red sandstone hewn blocks.^[6] It has been added to and rebuilt many times over the last eight centuries, including the addition of the Osborn Mausoleum in 1649 and the Osborn chapel in the same year (which forms the northern part of the church).^[7][8] Several of the Osborn crests and mottoes adorn the church which in Latin is 'Quantum in Rebus Inane,' and translates as 'What vanity in human affairs.'^[9]

The tower is 43 feet (13 m) high and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and was added in the 15 century replacing part of the south aisle.^[10] The church was renovated in the late 19th century^[11][12] with the tower being rebuilt from well cut sandstone blocks. At this time the organ was installed^[13] and was believed to have been from Chicksands Priory.^[10]

Robert Bloomfield (1766 - 1823),^[14] the pastoral poet, is buried in the churchyard.^[15] Although he lived and died in Shefford, he is interred in Campton^[16] as the church in Shefford, was a Chapel of Ease (essentially a sub-church of All Saints as Parish church)^[17] and as such had no burial ground. The church at Shefford remained in the Campton parish up until 1903,^[18] when it gained a separate parish for itself. The first register for the church was started in 1568 and includes records for Campton-Cum-Shefford (as the Parish was known) up until 1812 when Shefford's own register was started.^[19] The Campton-Cum-Shefford parish registers are notable for events in the 18th century including two people who were ex-communicated for fornication.^[20]

The graveyard also contains one Commonwealth War Grave from the First World War.^[21]

Rectors and vicars of the parish

List of rectors of All Saints Church Campton

The parish records note that there has been a rector officiating in the church since at least 1215. The history of the parish also has links into other parishes and certain redrawing of the boundaries. The church became a de facto head church when it was held in plurality with other parishes (IE when a rector officiates in two parishes).^[22] This has happened twice in the history of All Saints; between 1955 and 1976 when it was held in plurality with Shefford and from 1976 to 1982 when it was held in plurality with Meppershall and Stondon.

The names given below are from the List of Campton Rectors held by Central Bedfordshire Council. There is a parchment sheet with a list of rectors displayed inside the church (see image). This list differs with spellings and dates and where anomalies exist, they are annotated. The current incumbent is the Reverend Dean Henley who acceded in 2006.^[23]

The bells and the bell-ringers

List detailing the bells of All Saints Church Campton

The notice in the church (see image) lists 11 bells in the tower, two of which were cast in 1520 by William Culverden.^[6][24] Eight new bells were cast for the tower in 2006.^[25] The bells were hung alongside the existing three bells and dedicated on the 1 July 2007 being blessed in a special ceremony by the Bishop of Bedford.^[26]

The Campton Bell-Ringers peal out the bells for Sunday morning services and the bells are used in bell ringing competitions.^[27][28]

Church Interior

The church has many notable features; two priscinas (one by the altar and one in the south chapel), alcoves for effigy display^[10] and plaques and markers detailing remembrances for the dead. There are numerous Osborn family plaques commemorating their dead,^[29] but the oldest plaque dates back to 1489 and remembers Richard Carlyll and his wife Joan, both of whom died on 14 February 1489.^[19] No explanation is given for why they both died on the same day.

Some of the stained glass windows are dedicated to the dead and others (such as the east window) depict the saints and the Lamb of God.^[10]

The church used to have a Jacobean screen across the front of the Chancel. The screen dated back to 1670, but was destroyed in a fire in May 1960 when a sulphur candle used to remove bees in the church had been left unattended.^[30]

Notes

References

Coordinates: 52°01′46.1″N 0°21′16.1″W / 52.029472°N 0.354472°W / 52.029472; -0.354472