Restoration
In any large building of considerable age, restoration has to be an on-going process.
1737 the church was "white-washed", beautified and painted" and all at a cost of £20. Unfortunately this work also probably covered and damaged the Mediaeval wall paintings.
1808 there seems to have been work carried out on the church fabric, but five years later Lysons writes that "the windows of the aisle are without glass and the church roof much decayed, daily receiving fresh injury, exposed to the weather and the depredations of children."
1818 extensive restoration was begun by the Rev E.B. Lewis.
1862 and 1876 restoration was continued by the Rev J. Clegg during his incumbency, yet in that final year the Rev. C.E. Haslem described the church as "a disgrace to the Parish" and appealed for a sum of about £5,000 for repairs. This work proved more extensive than anything previously attempted.
The galleries which filled in the West end and run round the aisles were taken out. The transept arches which had been blocked were unblocked and the old loose box family pews in the Nave were cleared away with the exception of the Manor pew, which remained for many further years.
1922 then then Canon N. Hicks launched an appeal for £7,000 for extensive restorations and since then work has continued under successive Rectors and various additions have been made to the church, notably the East and West windows, the High Altar, Pulpit, Lectern and the Organ.
21st January 1976 there was a violent gale which caused enormous damage to the church. Most of the parapets were swept off the Nave roof and these came crashing down through the roofs of the North and South aisles. With help from the Ecclesiastic Insurance Company, from the Parish and from many other churches in the diocese, repairs were undertaken. Dr. Robert Runcie, who was then the Bishop of St. Albans, lent his support by attending the Summer fete on The Green.
During the period of repairs, services were held in the Church Hall. The North aisle was completely re-tiled and all the pews in the aisles were removed. The Nave battlements were not restored. The work took six months and on Saturday 16th July 1976 the church was rededicated by the Bishop of Bedford. The falling masonry had removed from the wall the painting of the head of Christ, painted by a Spanish artist. It was recovered completely undamaged from under the rubble and can be seen hanging in its original position.
1978 more repairs became necessary and a major restoration programme was started. The Tower battlements were found to be in a very dangerous condition and it was essential to make the Tower safe. Scaffolding shrouded the Tower from September 1981 until July 1982 while the wall at the top of the Tower was completely rebuilt and the South Window of the Tower refaced. This was done at a cost of nearly £50,000 including a grant from English Heritage. Since then a number of the buttresses on the North and South sides have been completely rebuilt and the Cheney Chapel re-roofed.
When it came to have work done on the Cheney Chapel window it was discovered that alterations had taken place, probably in the 19th Century, when the Chapel was established. The window had been heightened above the arch with the upper tracery surrounded not by stone but by render. The Totternhoe stone arch has now been replaced above the tracery and the window properly restored.
1982 the Organ was restored in memory of Dennis Hyde and again in 1985 following vandalism. In 1995 the bellows were re-leathered.
A grant of £50 was received and spent on a preliminary cleaning of the painting nearest the South porch revealing more of interest than had previously been seen. A further restoration plan is to be undertaken in memory of Reginald Buckingham who was a member of the church choir for 79 years and a well-loved character in the village.
1985 a new metal frame was erected for the bells and the tenor bell was recast.
1988 an amplification system was installed in memory of Frank Bryant.
1991 the North transept parapets and a number of the carved animals were replaced; the roof lead and finishings were also overhauled. The total cost was £45,000 with a grant from English Heritage covering 40% of the cost.
Early 1992 vandals managed to cause significant damage to most (17 in all) of the stained glass windows in a matter of just forty minutes. The sight that met peoples eyes next morning when the news spread, was quite devastating. A large number of people arrived to help clear away the glass and most of the windows had to be boarded up. Later that year the East window, West window, Cheney Chapel window and St. John's window were protected. The total cost was £12,000 which was raised by one large donation as well as a door to door collection and various fund raising events.
1992 the Wilkinson Church Hall was built.
1994 major work was carried out on the Parvise roof and parapets; again some of the carved animals were replaced.
1995 at the Patronal Festival, the Rector Tony Knox dedicated the new Kneelers for the Communion Rail. the work had been undertaken by members of the congregation over the previous two years. The design uses symbols from the East window and the Reredos. The first panel depicts the Crown of Thorns, and then the dark sky of the Cross lightens and passes behind the Paschal Lamb, an Angel, lilies and the flowers of the fields to the central theme of the Communion offering. This is followed by a Dove of Peace, oak leaves of St. George, the Christian fish and finally, the cockerel of denial heralding a new dawn.
As the Millennium moves ever nearer improvements continue and yet another interesting period in the church's history promises to unfold.
2004 Restoration of the North and South Aisle parapets. Historic Churches Preservation Trust. Click Here
Gratitude must be recorded to all those people and organisations who have worked so hard raising funds in so many ways, which has made this continuing work possible.