The Saxons put the county of Bedfordshire on the map, and signs of the earliest churches from this period remain today. Church building continued after the Norman Conquest, not least the foundation of the Abbey at Elstow by William the Conqueror’s niece, Judith of Lens, towards the end of the 11th century. One of Bedfordshire’s most famous sons, John Bunyan, was baptised in the church of St. Mary and St. Helena, at Elstow, over 500 years later, just one of approximately 50 places of worship featured in this selection of Bedfordshire churches following John and Jenny Jackson’s extensive travels around their home county’s places of worship.
With around 100 supporting photos, their selection is not just about the best in the county. It is a cross-section that reflects different styles, periods and locations within one of the country’s smallest counties. Many of these more remotely located churches are in little known villages, but nevertheless offer a charm of their own alongside the more sizeable communities of Bedford and Luton. This book aims to show the wide diversity on offer within the Bedfordshire area of the diocese of St. Albans. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Bedfordshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.