Nearby churches
BARFORD (LITTLE), a parish in the hundred of BIGGLESWADE, county of BEDFORD, 2½ miles (S. by W.) from St. Neots, containing 123 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £13.16. 3., and in the patronage of the Rev. John Alington. The church, dedicated to St Mary, is an ancient building with a Norman arch over the south door, and a curious wooden screen between the nave and the chancel. The river Ouse forms the western boundary of the parish. Nicholas Rowe, the dramatic writer, and poet-laureat to George I., was a native of this place; he was buried with much pomp in Westminster abbey in 1718.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
Church of England
The church of St. Denys is a small structure in the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle and a western tower containing 4 bells, and was thoroughly restored in 1871: the roof is of open timber work, a portion of which is beautifully painted: a Perpendicular rood screen separates the vestry from the body of the church, and its lower stage is decorated with red and white roses : the south doorway shows some fine Norman work, with an inserted arch of Early English date: the north doorway, also late Norman, has a well-carved arch on two shafts : the chancel had a south aisle, the arches of which were formerly built into the wall: there is a peculiar brass to Thomas Perys, 1535, and Agnes his wife: the stained east window is a memorial to the Alington family : the organ was presented in 1876 by A. H. Royds esq. and it has since been improved at a cost of £100: there are 110 sittings. The register dates from the year 1661.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
The parish record transcripts for St. Denys are available on microfiche for the period 1661-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
The full 1891 Census of Little Barford Parish is available as fiche set C13 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
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[Last updated 16 March 2003 Martin Edwards]