Visitors Guide

To All Saints Church, Kempston

Welcome to this Ancient Parish Church.

The Vicar, Churchwardens and members of All Saints hope that you enjoy your visit here.

Whether you are just passing by and have just popped in for a few moments of peace and quiet, or are on an organised visit, or even tracing your family ancestry, do stay a while, sit quietly, and absorb the tranquility of this lovely building.

 

 

Reflect on the many thousands of Kempstonian's who have worshipped here and maintained this House of God during the past nine centuries.

We ask you to remember in your thoughts and prayers the present Priest and congregation in this corner of England.

The Building

Traces of the small original Anglo-Saxon church can still be discerned in the exterior stonework. This early building was first altered by the Normans, probably by Judith, who was granted the Manor and lands at Kempston by her uncle, William I, in the post-Conquest period.

The North and South Aisles were added to the church during the 12th Century, but further major rebuilding took place in the 15th Century: the chancel was extended to its present length; the tower was raised in height to accommodate the bells; the clerestory was added to the nave; the large windows were created, so flooding the church with light for the first time; also, a porch with a room above was built over the south door. This great reconstruction left the church layout as you see it to-day, the only addition, in 1823, being a mausoleum on the North side of the chancel for the Long family, which now serves as a vestry.

We are proud of our ring of 10 bells, the largest of which (the tenor) weighs over 17 cwt. The bells were re-hung in a new iron and steel frame between 1976/79 and are rung every Sunday for the main services. Visiting ringers can be assured of a warm welcome from Martin Whiteley, the Tower Captain, and the Kempston band.

The 14th Century stone font, with beautiful carvings of the Saints and the Apostles around its sides, was mutilated during the Commonwealth period by the soldiers and agents of Oliver Cromwell. One can still see the marks of the chisels used to wreak the destruction. The ornate, octagonal oak cover dates from 1901.

The Bells

The Font

The Shields

The collection of shields hung on the North wall are all that remain of the many that once adorned the interior of the church. Two are Royal coats of arms. The shields with Bishop's Mitres on top are those of the Province of Canterbury and the Dioceses in which All Saints has been over the centuries, namely, Lincoln, Ely and St Albans. The remaining two show the coats of arms of local families, as does the large hatchment in the centre.

The Norman Arch

This handsome arch at the entrance to the chancel probably replaced an earlier Anglo-Saxon structure. Note the decorative nail head moulding, this was part of a string course that once ran round the entire interior of the church before the side aisles were added.