A History of Cranfield

Some years ago, a series of articles appeared in a local newspaper, and Cranfield Express felt it would be of interest to readers to repeat the series during the next few months. Here is article number 6.

More about the Church - and the bells The tower of the Parish Church is built of wide-jointed coursed rubble with an embattled parapet. The west door is modern in 15th-century style, and the window above it of two cinquefoiled lights under a four-centred head is also modern. On each side of the top stage are two 15th century windows. There is a stair in the south-west angle entered from the ground floor by internal and external doorways.

In 1845 the church was restored by the Rev. G G Harter (Rector of Cranfield 1845-1866). The architect in charge was Sir Gilbert Scott. The Chancel windows were renewed and filled with painted glass, and the south porch was renovated. A lych-gate was placed at the entrance to the church, the walls of the churchyard were built, and the churchyard was enlarged. In pre-Reformation times there were chapels at the ends of both north and south aisles, at which services were held, the piscina and sterne stand for an image in the north aisle, and the piscina and aumbry in the south aisle are of about the 13th century.

The small window above the Chancel and close to the roof is unusual. The Sanctus bell, which was rung during Mass, may have been there.

The church has few monuments of interest. In the south wall of the Chancel is a marble quarry, inscribed to the memory of Thomas Frank, a former Rector, who died in 1690. There is also in the south wall a monument to Thomas Grubbe, "a pious and painefull preacher and pastor of ye Worde of God thirty three years in this Parish". He was aged 58 years, and died on 31st August 1632. Most of the other monuments are to various rectors or their relatives. The present clock was given to the parish in March 1895 by Mr James Goodman, and replaced an older one. It cost £200, was made by J W Benson, of Ludgate Hill, and strikes the hours on the tenor bell and the quarters on two others.

In an inventory of the church, made in 1552, four bells and a Sanctus bell are mentioned. At present there are five bells and a small one known as the 'ting-tang' which may be the Sanctus bell referred to in the 1552 inventory and has no inscription.

The five bells are: Tenor, 1905, 18cwt, pitch E, founder Taylor, St Neots; Fourth, 1833, 13 cst, pitch F, cast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry; Third, 1611, 11cwt, pitch G, founder Newcombe, Leicester; Second, 1611, 9 cwt, pitch A, founder Newcombe, Leicester; and Treble, 1663, 7.5 cwt, pitch B, founder John Hudson.

The 'dinner bell' has been rung for many years, at 1pm and 2pm each weekday.

On Shrove Tuesday the Pan bowl - one bell and a muffled bell - are rung at 12 noon.