Bedfordshire 
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CRANFIELD, a parish in the hundred of REDBORNESTOKE, county of BEDFORD, 7 miles (W.N.W.) from Ampthill, containing 1153 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £33.2.1., and in the patronage of the Rev. James Beard. The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. There is a place of worship for Particular Baptists. A school is supported by charitable donations amounting to about £15 per annum. A mineral spring rises in the parish, but it is very little resorted to. Cranfield gives the interim title of baron to the Duke of Dorset.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
The 1851 Census Index for Cranfield can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 4, Book 4 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
Church of England
The church of SS. Peter and Paul is a building of coarse limestone, in the Early English and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, vestry with chamber over it, and a tower containing 5 bells, half turned and rehung in Feb. 1892: the interior was restored by the late Rev. George Gardner Harter, rector 1845-72: the stained east window, by Willement, was the gift of the late J. C. Harter: the west window, also stained, is filled with heraldic glass, and there are 6 other stained windows : the church is seated with richly carved oak benches: on the north side of the communion table is a brass to the Rev. James. Beard M.A. rector from 1820, and on the south are sedilia and piscina: there are also piscinae at the east ends of the aisles and a stoup, anciently used for holy water, just inside the south doorway : the pulpit of Caen stone and marble is a memorial to the Rev. G. G. Harter, rector, d. 1872: and his wife, and was presented by their children in 1882: the lych gate was the gift of the late J. C. Harter esq. : a font was presented as a memorial to Capt. Douglas Douglas Loftus, Oct. 1892, and a brass eagle lectern, at Christmas, 1891, by Mrs. Hill. The register dates from the year 1600.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Non-conformist
There are Wesleyan and two Baptist chapels.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898
The parish record transcripts for SS. Peter and Paul are available on microfiche for the period 1600-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
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[Last updated 5 May 2003 Martin Edwards]