Saint Martin’s Church in Fenny Stratford In Aylesbury Street at the heart of Bletchley Serving the Communities of Fenny Stratford, Central Bletchley and Granby

History of the church

It was in or around the 6th or 7th century that Fenny Stratford probably acquired its name, due in large part to the rather boggy landscape at that time. It soon became included in the ancient kingdom of Mercia which by the 8th Century had become a Christian nation. The great military way originally built by the Romans and which runs through Fenny Stratford, came in the course of time to be known as Watling Street.

By the beginning of the 17th Century Watling Street boasted fifteen inns and taverns but there was still no church. However in 1674, part of the area was sold to London physician Dr Thomas Willis. On his death, his grandson Browne Willis inherited the Manor at the age of Eighteen. When he reached the age of 21 years, and gained control of his inheritance, he resolved to build a church in Fenny Stratford.

The last time a church had stood in Fenny was from 1494 to 1550. It was known as the Chantry and Chapel of the Guild of St Margaret and St Catherine, which was made up of the local tradesmen of the area in that period. However with the closure of such Chantries by King Edward VI and the appropriation of their land, buildings, furniture and fittings by the Crown in 1550 the building in Fenny soon fell into disrepair and the stonework left became an open quarry for other building projects. Nothing remained of this earlier building.

A Mr Thomas Price owned the land, where once the chantry once stood and he first leased the land to Browne Willis, but later gave it, for the church to be built. In 1721 the town began to collect money for the building with some difficulty, yet enough was collected to enable the building of its walls and roof. In all this took four years and it was another two years before the church, or chapel, as it was then called, was finally completed.

Browne Willis has laid the Foundation Stone on Saint Martin's day in 1724, and on the 30th May in 1730 the chapel was finally consecrated by the then Bishop of Lincoln and dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It had taken six years to raise the £1,500 needed for the building, which at this stage consisted of a tower 17 feet long and a chapel 50 feet in length. On the ceiling of the chapel were displayed the Coats of Arms of the universities and gentry who had given generous donations towards the building work and many of these survive to the present day. In 1731, the Reverend Samuel Clarke became the vicar, and he was succeeded by the Reverend William Clifton in 1738.

Browne Willis had dedicated the chapel to St Martin in honour of his grandfather Dr Thomas Willis who had died on St Martins Day, in St Martins Lane, in the parish of St Martins in the Fields, in London. On the 11^th of November in 1730 he gave a portrait of Dr Thomas Willis, and started the St Martins dinner, which was to be held yearly and at which a speech was to be given. This still continues today. The sermon was paid for by an endowment from Dr Browne Willis.

The chapel had two doors one in the wall facing the Watling Street, the other in the tower facing Aylesbury Street. On either side of the door, to the chapel from the Bell Tower are two portraits, painted on wood. Both of Life Size Angels. (of the Judgement) there was also a Gallery. Browne Willis died on February 5^th 1760, and was buried within the Chapel. His tombstone is fixed in the wall by the Altar. This was thought to be Alabaster but when it was cleaned it was found to be Marble.

After celebrating St Martins Day every year, Browne Willis would carry a Silvercup to the Bull Inn with the Clergy and Gentry of the Neighbourood. This was an Heirloom given by Dr Benson, former Rector of Bletchley Church.

The Bletchley Parish Register began in 1577 and Fenny Stratford Register began in 1730.

Until this time, all Births, Marriages and Deaths were registered at Bletchley, Little Brickhill and Simpson. Two items in the Old Register Book, Sept 28 1764 N.B William Newman was buried in the Chapel, The Fees being £3.30 mortuary fee, including the Clerks Fee of 14 shillings. But excluding tolling the bell etc, Another 14 shilling.

April 21^st 1768, Mrs Ann Newman was buried in the Chapel, the same fees were paid.

Part of the First page of the Register reads the Register book of St Martins Chapel in Fenny Stratford.

Nomina Baptizatoru, Nomina Sepultorum.

MDCC XXX MDCC XXX

The Chantry Chapel existed in 1460, the Guild of St Margaret and St Catherine was founded in 1494 until it was Abolished. The Guild of Brotherhood, was founded by Henry VII it was destroyed 60 yrs later. They met at the Brotherhood House. This later became the Bull Inn. The Brotherhood was suppressed in 1550. It was on some of this ground St Martins Chapel was built.

From 1730 until 1821, the Chapel served the Parish of Fenny Stratford, Attached to Bletchley Church.

By this time the Parish had grown a committee was formed , with the task of enlarging the Chapel. The work started in 1823 and was completed by December of that year.

St Martins now had a Nave and Chancel.

In1834 Fenny Stratford quarrelled with Bletchley and the ArchDeacon declared that Fenny Stratford was an independent eccesiastcal Parish. After this date . St Martins became a Church.

Mr Matthew Stubbs, who lived in Bell close (it was a farm house before the Bedford Railway) Provided money for the daily ringing of the Angelius Bell and the repair of the Bell ropes, in the 1860s to 1890s.

Mr Stubbs served at various times as Church Warden and Parish Surveyor. This is a Stained Glass window in the Church, in his memory, He died in 1892 age 73 yrs.

The Rev Francis Delacy- Smith- White was vicar of St Martins 1881 to 1884, and in 1884 the West window was filled with Coloured Glass in his memory.

The West window in the Nave has four lights containing the figures of the Evangelists and beneath the window is a Brass 22- 18 ½ inches on a backing of Black Marble inscribed.

To the glory of God and in Loving Memory of the Rev George William Corlrer M. A 12 years.

Vicar of Fenny Stratford.

In the Bletchley Register under the date 15^th May 1587 is the Marriage of William Dye Skoolem of Bletchley showing that a School Master was employed in the Parish, in the 16^th Century, he probably taught in the School referred to, by Rev Cole, who states that in 1712 there were 20 Children in the School and taught at the charge of the Lord of the Manor, and the Minister, Dr Browne Willis, who at his own cost, supplied yearly Three Charity Schools, at Whaddon, Bletchley and Fenny Stratford.

In the universal British directory of 1792, William Lloyd , School Master, is mentioned in the Fenny Stratford section , But no indication is given as to the nature of the School.

On 18^th October , was founded the National Society of Education, in the principle of the Church, This Society co ordinated the Educational efforts of the Churchmen , all over the Kingdom.

To freely convey to the Minister and Church wardens of Fenny Stratford, the site above referred to with the Buildings then on it. The deed itself is in the Parish chest.

It was on this site that the Angel Inn stood in the 17^th Century , People who died at the Inn were buried in the Churchyard.

In 1887 the Schools were transferred to a School Board, which rented the Premises from the Trustees, on 21^st Feb 1899 the Premises were handed back to the Vicar and Church Wardens.

The daily School is no longer held in the Building known as the High St Schools, but the Sunday School, established in 1808 still used the building.

A specially adapted room was used by the St Martins Lodge of Freemasons, the Lodge was founded by the Rev Henry Francis Oliver, who was Vicar of St Martins from 1899 to 1905. The Royal Arch Chapter also met at the School.

The Rev Oliver also made changes to the St Martins dinner , The dinner was held in the evening of St Martins Day , and was available to all Parishioners, each diner.

paid for his own dinner, and also bore the cost of his own and his guest's alcoholic burden, with compulsory aid of his guest. Previous to this all expenses were paid for by the Church.

In the year 1705 the School children were brought from the High Street to the Church on Sundays, And would sit in the Gallery, The music was provided by a Fiddle and a Flute. IN 1865, The present Chancel and Nave were built, under the direction of Mr W. White Architect. Tower was restored in 1884 in the time of the Rev Barrow. The words “Rebuilt 1726 Restored 1884” are inscribed in a stone inset in the face of the North wall.

The Tower contains a clock and seven Bells.

In 1897 an organ Chamber was provided, This is now used at the blessed sacrament Chapel.

The Church also owned two cottages, called St Martins House in Aylesbury Street, The rent from these was used for the purchase of Gun Powder for the poppers . The House was demolished in 1915, and an eighteenth Century Memorial and a stone was taken from the house and put in the Church Tower. Before 1838 the Church yard facing the Watling Street was quite small , but in that year, some cottages were knocked down, half of the ground was used to widen the road , and the other half was added to the Churchyard. This was surrounded by an iron fence, and consecrated, But by 1859, it was full up, anyone dying on the road or in the local Inns was buried here.

By 1901, when Queen Victoria died the Church was again too small, it was decided to build another aisle, although, enough money was collected, the building was not started until 1906, the foundation stone was not laid until 14^th October 1907. This was laid by Lord Addington Grand Master of Freemasons, The Surveyor being Mr John Chadwick. When this was finished , the Church was complete, and is still like it today.

A lot of changes have taken place in the interior of the Church, over the years.

In the September 1934 edition of St Martins Parish magazine (price 2D) is a letter of farewell from the Rev Moxon and also a new letter from the new vicar Father Wheeler. Also in the magazine is a report of the Sunday School Summer Treat to Wicksteed Park, by train to Kettering and bus ride to the Park. We went to Wicksteed Park many times over the years usually by double decker buses.

Father Wheelers institution into the Parish took place in the October, He soon got to know his parishioners, during Father Wheelers time, the communions service was at 11am. And the Sunday School children were taken to the Church, for the first part of the service, after first attending Sunday School in St Martin's Hall, we had a large Sunday School, and each week we were given a stamp to stick in an album. The infants side did not attend Church

Once a month, the Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies attended Church Parade , The Flags were collected from Church on Saturday , and were carried on parade. The Union Jack, The Scout and Guide flags hung in the childrens corner when not in use: the childrens corner was at the bottom of the first table, the organ was at the back, in it were small wooden chairs with rush seats, a small table and some lovely pictures of the Christ Child, Also a prayer stool every Christmas a crib would be put out, and at Easter, the Easter garden was arranged, the Guides would go to the woods to collect primroses. The Altar, now known as St Catherines, was given to the Church , by Mr and Mrs Boston, in memory of their daughter Patricia who died in June 1943 aged 16 years .

The altar became part of the childrens corner and was known as Pat's altar.

We also had a children's service on Sunday after noon. Just before Christmas every year , we had a toy service , The children were asked to give a toy , which would be passed on to the childrens home .

Another collection the Sunday School undertook, was Whitsun Farthings, These were saved all year, and at Whitsun, collection was taken to Oxford Cathedral by four representatives from the Sunday School and presented to the Bishop, and Special Service. St Martins had a large choir, and they sat in the choir stalls between the channel screen and the high altar, The Choir Boys sat in the front rows and the choristers sat at the back .

There were ladies in the choir as well as men. The Rude figures were hung above the Chancel

screen, These have now been moved nearer to the high altar. The communion was taken at the Communion rails, in front of the high altar.

The war memorial used to hang on the wall , between the children's corner and the Chancel. On the stone pillars were small statues of Angels and on one corner a statue of Saint Martin. These have disappeared. Believed to have been stolen. (Joke)!

At the back of the Church, on the left side of the door , is the baptistry . The cover on the font was made locally. It is built of Oak, in octagonal shape, containing sixteen panels arranged in two stories. Each panel is decorated with the same ecclesiastical pattern.

During the services, the Verger and Sexton Mr Alderman would sit at the back of the Church, in his own chair. In 1940 Father Wheeler was made rural Dean . Mrs Wheeler used to take the Mother's Union meetings , she was very active in all activities at the Parish . On May 6^th 1957 the day after Father Wheeler left the parish after 23 years , pieces of the armourial ceiling fell down , on inspection, it was found that serious damage had been done , owing to the heavy traffic, the ceiling was repaired and dedicated by the Bishop of Buckingham, the cost was paid by public Subscription.

In 1957 the Church clock lost part of the face , due to the poppers being let off in the Church yard.

On May 25 1957 Father Wright was inducted in the Parish and in October 1957 the family moved in to the new vicarage. He was not happy with the attendance at the 11am service, so decided that the Sunday after Easter morning service , would begin at 9am.

In the early days of the Chapel . The incumbent did not live in the town, A vicarage was built in 1869 for the Rev George Corker and his family . Several extensions were added over the years. It was built on land on the corner of Vicarage Lane and Water Eaton Lane. In 1957 a new vicarage was built in the orchard , and the old one was sold. Flats now stand on the site.

The "Fenny Poppers"

Between 1724 and 1730, Browne Willis built St. Martin's Church on the site of the old Chantry Chapel of St. Margaret and St. Catherine at Fenny Stratford. He erected the church as a memorial to his grandfather Dr. Thomas Willis, a famous physician, who lived in St. Martin's Lane in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, who died on St. Martin's day, 11th November 1675.

In order to perpetuate his own memory, Browne Willis arranged for a sermon to be preached at St. Martin's Church on each St. Martin's Day, for which a fee was payable. During his lifetime, he also celebrated the occasion with a dinner attended by local clergy and gentry. The poppers date from this time, but there is no record of their first use.

In 1740, Browne Willis bought a house in Aylesbury Street, Fenny Stratford and the rent from this was used to pay for the sermon and gunpowder. Following his death in 1760, the traditions were carried on and later documented.

All six poppers were re-cast by the Eagle Foundry, Northampton in 1859, after one of them burst. It is these that are still in use today and they were recently examined and x-rayed to ensure there are no cracks.

During their long history, many sites have been used for this battery. These include; the Canal Wharf, land behind the Church, St, Martin's Hall, the Churchyard and now the Leon Recreation Ground that was once part of the lands belonging to the Chantry.

The poppers each weigh about 19 pounds (8.5 kilos). The bore, 6" by 1.3/4" will take up to 1/4 pound of gunpowder, which is plugged with well-rammed newspaper. They are fired three times on St. Martin's Day; 12 Noon, 2:00pm and 4:00pm precisely. There is of course no connection with Remembrance Day.

In 1901 they were fired to mourn the death of Queen Victoria, the 81 salutes were heard as far as Olney.

On the 1st January 2000 at 11.00am the Popper's were fired to mark the beginning of the Second Millennium.

At 2.00pm on the 4th August 2000, a salute of Six Popper's was fired to celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Queen's Mother.