All Saints Church, Turvey, Bedfordshire 2026

A Beautiful village church in Bedfordshire. Steeped in history and welcoming and open to visitors on a daily basis Filmed on the 20th September 2026 using a DJI Mini 5 Pro and DJI Pocket 4. All Saints Church in Turvey, Bedfordshire, is a Grade I listed parish church with deep Anglo-Saxon origins dating back to around 980 AD. It stands as the largest parish church in the Deanery of Sharnbrook. Over the centuries, its architecture has evolved from a Roman-Saxon foundation into a sprawling medieval structure, later enriched by prominent Victorian restorations • The masonry of the three western bays of the nave and the lower portions of the tower are late Saxon. This is evidenced by two deeply splayed round window openings high above the south nave arcade and a blocked doorway leading from the tower staircase • The church plan grew dynamically across centuries. The south aisle and south porch were constructed in the 13th century. The north arcade followed in the early 14th century, and the walls were raised in the 15th century to accommodate a new clerestory and a grand timber angel roof featuring 12 carved figures. • Thirteenth-Century Ironwork: The massive oak doors of the south porch feature highly intricate medieval scroll ironwork. These are traditionally attributed to the famous local master metalworker John of Leighton and operate with a magnificent 30cm key. • The south aisle houses a late-Norman four-corner stone font dating to around 1200 AD. • The local estate belonged to the Mordaunt family for generations, leaving an architectural legacy in the north mortuary chapel. The earliest is a stone tomb chest for Sir John Mordaunt (died 1506) in the south aisle, featuring an effigy resting on a helmet topped with a shrieking man. • A grand, two-tiered alabaster and marble monument commemorates John, 1st Baron Mordaunt (died 1560) and his wife. Later additions include the elegantly simple black alabaster and marble memorial to the 3rd Baron Mordaunt (died 1601), who historically served as a judge at the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. • One of the church's most notable historical rectors was Legh Richmond, a celebrated writer whose popular books chronicling English village life brought national attention to the parish during the early 19th century] • Sir George Gilbert Scott's Vision: During the eighteen fifties, renowned architect Sir George Gilbert Scott carried out an extensive, high-craftsmanship structural restoration. He extended the length of the church eastwards, building a brand new chancel, sanctuary, chancel arch, and vestry. Scott removed the old box pews and moved the historic chancel screen to achieve a lavish, high-church aesthetic. • The extensive Victorian works were entirely funded by Charles Longuet Higgins of Turvey Abbey. Higgins, who also served as the parish organist for 31 years, presented the church with its remarkable four-manual Hill & Sons organ in 1855 and finished the roof using local Collyweston slate. • The west tower, which originally supported a spire that was struck by lightning in 1858, was topped with its current embattled parapet and pyramid roof line during the final phase of renovations in 1864. In recent times The friends of All Saints Turvey were formed as a charitable trust raising money for building maintenance and restoration through community-driven social events and other fundraising campaigns. Special annual gatherings today include the ‘Festival of Flowers’, Choral Evensong collaborations and celebratory village services A beautiful Village church in the heart of Bedfordshire, steeped in history and welcoming of visitors. Filmed on the 20th September 2026 Cameras - DJI Mini 5 Pro and DJI Pocket 4