Langford Church Repairs and Alterations
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 & Luton Archives & Records Service and some held elsewhere or published.
Following the Reformation the church fell into decay and Archdeacon Bonney's orders from the 1830s make it clear that the church and its interior were badly neglected. In an article on the church in the Northampton Mercury of 21st August 1851 W.A. (John Martin, who wrote a series of articles on Bedfordshire churches) describes the poor state of the building and suggests that the cause is that there had been no resident clergyman in the parish. "The pavement is very bad. A common parlour chair is placed at the table; windows partly blocked up; shovels and brooms find a retreat under the oak chest. Whilst such irreverent proceedings are permitted by those who know better, what right is there to look for respect from the worshippers?"
The Rev. C. C. Ewbank arrived as curate in 1868 which was the start of a 65 year ministry in the parish. He became vicar in 1870 and began a proper restoration of the building. The chancel was restored and re-seated in April 1872. By the following September money was being raised for work on the nave which was completed in 1874. In the same year the pitch of the roof was altered and as a temporary measure chairs were placed in the nave in place of the old pews. Following more fundraising Ewbank applied for a faculty in 1883 for various works including re-seating the nave, repairs to the tower, new heating apparatus and the addition of a vestry. The architect was Arthur W Blomfield but owing to a lack of money little of the planned work was carried out. The church was seated with new oak pews in 1884-5 and at the same time the vestry and organ chamber on the north side of the chancel were added in memory of Rev Henry Addington who died in 1883. A barrel organ was installed in 1885 but was replaced in 1906 by the present organ.
By 1894 a great deal of work had been done but the Archdeacon was concerned about the tower. By 1898 the roof of the south aisle had been renewed but in 1904 the tower and windows were still in need of attention. Repairs to the windows were made in 1912 and the tower was finally restored in 1914.
Later work includes the furnishing of the chapel at the east end of the south aisle as a memorial to Rev Ewbank who died in 1933, and the stained glass of 1949 in the east window.