Houghton Regis Church Alterations and Repairs

Most of the structural history of the church can be found in detail in Bedfordshire Historical Record Society Volume number 77 of 1998 Bedfordshire Churches in the Nineteenth Century: Part II: Parishes H to R put together by former County Archivist Chris Pickford from numerous sources some held by Bedfordshire Archives and some held elsewhere or published.

In 1617 the church was reported to be out of repair. In 1674 the farmers of the Rectory tithe were excommunicated for not repairing the chancel. From 1714 there are churchwardens' accounts which give detailed information on repairs and alterations to the roofs, seating and fabric of the building. They also refer to "writing ye sentences" in 1715 – i.e. the Ten Commandments, creed and Lords Prayer.  Other changes noted included the buying of leather buckets and an altar piece in 1727 (which was painted in 1753 and repaired in 1830); a new weathercock made by Edward Appleford of Dunstable in 1750 and a new gallery built in 1774 (which was rebuilt in 1842 and then removed in 1856). The bells were rehung in 1780 and in 1817 John Briant of Hertford remodelled the ring and provided a new bellframe.

A number of repairs were done in the 1820s which marked the beginning of a gradual process of restoration and improving the church. Mr Roote prepared plans and specifications for repairs in 1839.  Under his direction the roof was repaired, the gallery enlarged and the church reseated.  A new wooden pulpit was provided in 1841-3.  The Duke of Bedford, a major landowner in the parish, contributed to this and later work. 

The main restoration took place under the Rev. Hugh Blagg Smyth, who was rector between 1856 and 1580 and is commemorated in the stained glass window in the tower.  The work began in 1856-7 under Henry Clutton, with John Cumberland of Luton as the surveyor.  As well as structural repairs the gallery was removed, a new baptistry formed and the south porch rebuilt.  The main restoration of the exterior took place in 1867-9.  The tower was not restored until 1937. 

Further 19th century improvements included a new organ by Walker in 1857, stained glass of 1864 in the aisles by Baillie and a new stone pulpit of 1879 which was altered in 1892 when new carved panels and a memorial inscription were added. The bells were rehung in 1899. In 1913 the old box pews in the chancel were removed to make way for the new choir stalls and clergy desk. The present reredos and altar were later introduced as a memorial to those who were killed during the First World War. Later work included major repairs to the tower in 1937 and 1993-4, repairs to the roofs in 1953 and improvements to the west end of the church in the 1990s.