"The West Tower was built in the 15th Century, at which time the south wall was rebuilt. In the mid 1850’s many churches were in a sad, neglected state and the unsatisfactory condition of All Saints was deeply deplored. An article published in the Northampton Mercury on 15th January 1853 described the interior as “dirty and decayed”. The Lay Rector’s seat was softly cushioned, contrasting strongly with the dingy appearance elsewhere in the building. In the belfry reposed a bath, purchased for the use of the parishioners when the cholera raged (Bedford had an epidemic in 1849). Windows were blocked up in the Porch and a family vault marred one of the windows in the Aisle.
The 12th Century font is drum shaped with a band of acanthus leaves carved around the middle of its east face and it is lined with lead.
The original lid was presumably lost during the Puritan period.
It is almost certainly the only part of the Church which existed when Geoffrey de Ranhal was Vicar in 1229.
Marble Polhill Tablet
IN MEMORY OF
ROBERT GRAHAM POLHILL
LIEUTENANT IN HER MAJETY’S 95th REGIMENT
WHO FELL
IN FRONT OF HIS REGIMENT DEFENDING THE COLOURS
AT THE BATTLE OF THE ALMA
SEPTEMBER 20th 1854, AGED 26
IN THIS MEMORABLE ACTION
THE 95th WAS MOST CONSPICUOUS
AND ITS LOSS ENORMOUS
LIEUTENANT POLHILL WAS THE SECOND SON
OF EDWARD POLHILL ESQ OF BRIGHTON
AND OF ANNE MARGARET, YOUNGEST DAUGHTER
OF THE LATE THOMAS GRAHAM ESQ
OF EDMOND CASTLE, CUMBERLAND
AND GREAT GRANDSON OF
NATHANIEL POLHILL OF HOWBURY ESQ, M.P.
“THEY ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD
BRING WITH US” 1 THESS. IV_ 14
ALSO IN MEMORY OF EDWARD POLHILL ESQ THE FATHER OF THE ABOVE
WHO WAS TAKEN SUDDENLY FROM HIS SORROWING FAMILY, OCTOBER 2nd 1859, AGED 70
ALSO OF CHARLES DAVENPORT POLHILL ESQ HIS YOUNGEST SON
WHO DIED FOUR MONTHS AFTER HIS FATHER, FEBRUARY 7th 1860, AGED 20
The tomb to Edmund Wayte and his wife, dated 1518, stood in its present position in 1853.
There are two brasses for Edmund and Agnes, his wife, plus two indents for one son and two daughters. There are also the letters EA and W, and the inscription “HIC IACENT EDMUNDEUS WAYTE GENEROSUS & AGNES UXOR EI’ QUORU PANIMAR PPICIET DEU A.D.” The three shields on the side of the tomb cannot now be identified. However, in 1868 a copy was made of the two then surviving shields; the middle shield had the Wayte Arms upon it and the far shield the letter “W”. There is also an inscription on the slab “Here lyeth Edmunde Wayte Gent & Agnes his wyfe which Edmunde dyed the xi day of August ano dni Mo Do xviiii of yor charite sei a pr nr and an ave.”
details from the gold leaflet inside the church
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