Repairs and Additions

 
Southill church from the south-east March 2008

Most of the structural history of the church can be found in detail in Bedfordshire Historical Record Society Volume number 79 of 2000 Bedfordshire Churches in the Nineteenth Century: Part III: Parishes S to Y, put together by former County Archivist Chris Pickford from numerous sources some held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service and some held elsewhere or published.

 
Southill church interior west end March 2008

The bulk of the medieval masonry of All Saints seems to be 15th century. However, evidence from wills, including those of John Cotton of Broom of 1515, John Maynard of Broom of 1522 and William Stanton of Southill of 1524 make it clear that the north aisle| was being built at this time. At the archdeacon's visitation in 1578 the chancel| was reported to be decayed [ABC3 pages 8 and 209] and nearly a hundred years later, in 1674, it was reportedly being repaired [CRT170/9/1 page 11]. A terrier of 1707 recorded five bells [ABE2 Volume I page 159].

 
Southill church from the north-east March 2008

In 1733 the Byng family obtained a faculty [P69/2/2/4] to build a family vault on the north side of the chancel. This was needed to bury the illustrious Admiral George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington, who died in that year. In 1757 the vault also received the body of Torrington's less able son Admiral John Byng |after he had been executed for his failure to save the island of Minorca from French conquest. The roof of the vault was raised, along with that of the rest of the church, in 1814.

 
Southill church notice in porch March 2008

In 1811 George Cloake reported on the condition of the church and prepared plans for its restoration [W1/6028-6065 and P69/5/3]. Cloake died before the work was begun and S.W.Reynolds oversaw the work which began in 1813 and ended in 1814. Samuel Whitbread bore the cost of restoring the chancel and helped the congregation finance the rest of the work which was mainly done through annuities [P69/5/3 and W1/6038-6065]. The work included replacing the dormer windows on the south side of the nave with a brick clerestory| of four windows north and south, buttresses and parapets were restored in brick. The exterior of the church was stuccoed and the whole church re-seated with box pew in the aisles [W1/6063].

Southill church inscription on organ loft March 2008

The church was reopened for worship on 20th November 1814. Following this work continued until 1816, specifically: the tower roof was repaired and the clock rebuilt [W1/6060-6061]; six bells replaced the original five cast by John Briant of Hertford [W1/6052 and 6063] and a new south porch was added to replace the old 15th century construction. Unfortunately, poor quality materials were used in the restoration and the rearrangement of the church internally was mocked just thirty years later. 

Southill church east window March 2008

In 1824 a new basin for the font was purchased [P69/5/3]. In 1836 the roof was repaired and the clock in 1839 [P69/5/3]. Lady Elizabeth Whitbread presented a new organ in 1841 though this was replaced in 1867 [W3527]. In 1848 new tracery was placed in the chancel east window by Bedford architect John Tacy Wing who also moved the pulpit and reading desk from the east end [P69/5/3]. The interior of the church was redecorated in 1854 [P69/5/3]. The east window was filled with stained glass in 1867 in memory of William Henry Whitbread and four years later a window on the south side of the chancel was given stained glass in memory of Harriett Whitbread.

 
Southill church font detail March 2008

The roof was repaired again in 1891 [P69/5/3] and a memorial window to Rev.Charles Baldock installed in the north aisle in 1894. A new pulpit was provided in 1912 and a new lectern, provided by Samuel Howard Whitbread in 1913. Between 1923 and 1927 the poor material used in 1814 necessitated repairs to the external walls. Joscelyne Whitbread was commemorated by a new font designed by Ampthill architect Professor Albert Richardson and a stained glass window by Hugh Easton in the south-west corner of the church in 1936. Richardson also supervised repairs to the tower and church exterior between 1951 and 1954 and the removal of the box pews from the aisles in 1958 [P69/2/2/14-17].