St. James, Biddenham, Bedfordshire

Description

The parish church of St. James is an edifice of stone, in the Norman and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled central tower with small spire, containing a clock and 6 bells, re-cast and re-hung in 1895: in the church is preserved a piece of German tapestry work, bearing the date 1549: it was cleaned in 1894, and is in a fair state of preservation. There are two hagioscopes and piscinae: inserted in the north wall of the chancel is a quaint monument of alabaster and marble to the Boteler family, dated 1621, and there are several mural tablets and some curious brasses. The stained east window was presented in 1897 as a memorial to Charles Howard esq.: the organ was provided in 1898 at a cost of £400.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1663