The Church
The origins of the church date back to Anglo-Saxon times, and are tied to the Holy Well which springs from the rock on which the church is built. Whether the well was declared Holy because it sprang from under the church or the church was built to celebrate the well is unclear. The well is to the east of the church running towards the river Great Ouse.
The original church probably consisted of a nave, chancel and small tower but the only remaining evidence is in the lower level of the tower. The church was rebuilt in C14 with aisles and chapels to the north and south of the chancel. In C15, the tower was heightened and the clerestory added over the nave. The aisles, in particular the two chapels, were in a state of disrepair in C17 and, whilst the aisles were repaired, the two chapels were left in ruins.
The church now consists of a nave, chancel, north and south aisles and porches, west tower and the two ruined chapels. The nave is around 35 feet by 15 feet with the chancel adding around 26 feet. The north aisle is around 15 feet wide whilst the south is some 13 feet. The tower is around 12 feet square and is overlapped by the aisles forming a complete west end the width of the church. The tower is some 61 feet high.
http://stmarysstevington.org.uk/
Our Work
St Mary’s harbours three bat species: Pipistrelles, Natterer's bats and Brown Long-eared bats. The church community is not troubled by the bats, who have been resident for many years.
In 2022, the church held an weekend-long eco-fete in July, including a successful bat prowl. This was supported by the project and Bedfordshire Bat Group.
Stevington case study
The Bats
St Mary’s harbours three bat species: Pipistrelle spp., Myotis nattereri, and Plecotus auritus. The church community is not troubled by the bats, who have been resident for many years.
In 2022, the church held an eco-fete in July, including a successful bat prowl.
Upcoming events
If you’d like to contact or find out more about the church, visit their page on A Church Near You