Northill
St. Mary's Church

Places > Northill > Churches

Building work on the church started in the early 1300s; the church is built of sandstone and is of a style known as late decorated. The tower is 73ft high and contains a peel of bells including the oldest bell in Bedfordshire - 'Gabriel'.  The church also has a famous one handed clock made by Thomas Tompion.

In 1404 the church become a collegiate church with a company of priests to say prayers everyday for the repose of John Traylly (Knight) and his son Reginald.  The college was dissolved in 1547.

Northill parish church is the only church in Bedfordshire which contains a large number of fourteenth century line impressed tiles in situ.  They are laid in the pavement in the vestry.

Sources:

• Newspaper articles and church guides in Bedford Central Library

St. Mary's Church by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2005

Page last updated: 3rd February 2014