List of Rectors

Battlesden church east window January 2007

The parishes of Battlesden and Potsgrove| were united in 1732 as Battlesden with Pottesgrove, in other words they shared one incumbent and had a combined vestry and officers (and today have a united parochial church council and churchwardens). In 1961 Battlesden with Potsgrove was joined with Woburn|, sharing the same incumbent, Milton Bryan| and Eversholt being added in 1979 so that the Rector of Battlesden is now also Vicar of Woburn, Rector of Eversholt and Rector of Milton Bryan though each parish (and the united parish of Battlesden with Pottesgrove) retains its own parochial church council, churchwardens and services.

Detail of capital set into chancel east wall January 2008

List of Rectors of Battlesden

• Richard de Gatesden - 1219;
• John de Kana;
• Alured de Hererd - 1261 [subdeacon];
• John de Leycton - 10 October 1292; 
• Adam de Leycton - 13 March 1293 [clerk, on presentment of John de Leycton to another cure of souls];
• Roger Keynes - 11 March 1319 [subdeacon, on resignation of Adam de Leycton];
• Adam de Fordham;
• Henry de Cobelynton - 23 June 1323 [priest, on resignation of Adam de Fordham];
• William de Shenle - 1 July 1349 [priest, on death of Henry de Cobelynton];
• John Siward - 12 June 1380 [priest, on resignation of William Shenle];
• John Benet - 23 October 1388 [priest, on resignation of John Syward, exchanged to Lillingston Dayrell rectory];
• William Wystanstowe - 16 February 1391 [priest, on resignation of John Benet];
• Robert Beeston - 27 June 1405 [clerk, on death of last rector];
• John Wynk - 16 July 1406 [vacant];
• John Man - 20 December 1410 [on death of John Wynk, alias Crofton];
• Walter Paulyn - 1430;
• Thomas Person;
• John Myles - 2 August 1460 [priest, on resignation of Thomas Person];
• Thomas Shenkwyn - 24 May 1482 [on resignation of John Miles];
• Robert Eton - 1 January 1482 [priest, on resignation of Thomas Shenkwyn]
• John Hounte - 11 Feb 1500 [priest, on death of Robert Eton; in plurality with Tilsworth];
• Ralph Gryndall - 23 March 1503 [on resignation of John Hunte];
• Hugh Hodgeson - 3 December 1547 [M.A., on death of Ralph Grendell];
• Michael Emmut (Emmite) - 9 July 1555;
• Michael Marsh - 7 January 1601 (M.A., on death of last incumbent];
• John Vicars - 28 July 1626;
• Nathaniel Reynes - 28 July 1629 [Bachelor of Divinity];
• Adam Lewgar - 23 February 1643 [clerk];
• John Viccars - 5 May 1645; [clerk. Resignation bond dated 2 October 1656];
• Thomas Baker - 28 April 1657 [Susanna, his wife, buried 8 April 1701; in plurality with Potsgrove from 1661];
• Henry Layng - 15 March 1707 [M.A., on death of previous incumbent; in plurality with Potsgrove];
• William Capell - 31 August 1709 [M.A., licensed curate of Battlesden cum Potsgrove];
• John Dix - 20 December 1710 [M.A., licensed curate, as above];
• John Little - 1712 [curate];
• Samuel Backler - 17 February 1726 [clerk, on death of Henry Layng]

Detail of cross on font January 2008

List of Rectors of Battlesden with Pottesgrove

• Edward Bouchier - 22 June 1732 [M.A., to Battlesden cum Potsgrove, on resignation of last incumbent];
• Henry Watkins - 23 November 1738 [B.A., on cessation of Edward Bouchier];
• George Charles Black - 15 August 1759 [on death of Henry Watkins];
• Thomas Sawell - 12 April 1775 [M.A., on death of George Charles Black];
• Edward Henry Whinfield - 11 December 1784 [B.A., on death of Thomas Sawell];
• Henry Wrey Whinfield - 17 September 1821 [M.A., on death of Edward Henry Whinfield];
• Henry Edmond Fryer - 8 June 1849 [M.A., on death of H. W. Whinfield];
• Edward Norman Coles - 24 November 1857 [clerk, on resignation of H.E. Fryer];
• James Davidson - 13 October 1888;
• Heneage Horsley Jebb - 1895 [M.A., exchanged to Streatham. Died 18 January 1913];
• Harold Sellon Watts - January 1905;
• William Joy Clarke - October 1918;
• William Nevitt Westmore - October 1922;
• Arthur Arnold Carter - September 1930;
• Garnet George Stapylton Kenyon - 1946;
• William George Dean Pitt Mercer - 1960;
• Robin Orbell Osborne - 1961;
• John Terence Wenham - 1965;
• Paul Richard Miller - 1979;
• James Alan Heslop - 1999;
• Stephen Nuth - 2004

Detail of flowers on font January 2008

Volume 81 published by the Bedfordshire Historical Records Society (2002) is devoted to returns made during episcopal visitations| to the county by the Bishop of Lincoln in the early 18th century, edited by former County Archivist Patricia Bell. The returns, made by the vicar, throw an intetesring light on the state of the church in the parish at the time. Clearly the rector did not live in the parish as in 1706 Rev.Baker reported: "The Parsonage now lets, as it has done for 49 years past [when he first became rector], for £60 per Annum". Baker died and was succeeded by Henry Layng in 1708, who employed a succession of curates. The 1712 return stated: "Neither Rector nor Curate resides [in the parish]". Divine service was held once every Sunday "the other time at Potsgrave". Communion was administered four times a year and of the 30 communicants about half received.

John Little had been Curate in 1712 and was still in the office in 1717, now, however: "I Reside as Curate...I don't live in the Parsonage House. My Allowance is £35 per annum for this Place and Potsgrave". He went on: "I don't know of any who come to Church that are not Baptized, but some being Baptized, and of a Competent Age, not Confirmed. No Adults Baptized. Publick service is read once every Lord's day, It is not performed twice by reason of an adjacent Parish Potsgrave where I have undertaken to perform the same duty. Sacrament Three times [per annum] at least. Eighteen Communicants. ten of them usually receive, twelve last Easter.I give open and timely Warning of the Sacrament. The Parishioners don't send in their Names. I have refused the Sacrament to none".

Three years later the Rector was still a non-resident "because I live at Milton very near it", he now had no curate. Services were held: "Once every Lord's day, most commonly in the Afternoon, but sometimes in the morning. It is not twice perform'd because it is a small Parish, and he that has the care of this, has commonly the care of some other Church...Sacrament Four times in a year, at Christmas, Easter, Whitsontide and Michaelmass. About 40 Communicants, of whom about 10 or 12 usually receive. Only 9 receiv'd last Easter, the Gentleman's family being absent".

On Sunday 30th March 1851 a census of all churches, chapels and preaching-houses of every denomination was undertaken in England and Wales. The local results were published by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1975 as Volume 54, edited by D.W.Bushby. The figures given for Battlesden church were 32 attending in the morning. The Rector, Henry Edmund Fryer, noted the seating capacity of the church as 68.