St. Swithin, Sandy, Bedfordshire

Description

The church of St. Swithin is a cruciform building of native red sandstone, chiefly in the Early English style, erected in the 14th century, and consists of chancel with aisles, nave, aisles, transepts, and a western embattled tower containing a clock and six bells: in the chancel is a double piscina and sedilia and a marble monument to Capt. Sir William Peel R.N., K.C.B. commander of the Naval Brigade during the Crimean War, who died at Lucknow 27th April, 1858: there are six stained windows, the east window, erected in 1890, being a memorial to Adelaide (Dugdale), d. 1890, wife of the Rt. Hon. Viscount Peel P.C. formerly Speaker of the House of Commons, 1884-95; another was presented by the present rector in memory of his deceased wife, and there is one to the late F. A. J. Foster esq. of Sandy Place, killed in the Burmese War of 1890: there are mural tablets to the Pym, Payne and other families: a brass eagle lectern was presented in 1889 by Mrs. Pope: the church was restored and enlarged In 1861, at a cost of £3,300, when the transepts and chancel arch were rebuilt and the aisles enlarged; in the course of the work a beautiful carving in alabaster was found, with figures of soldiers in chain armour, brightly coloured and now in the chancel: the screen filling the tower arch is a memorial to Elizabeth Jefferies. In 1903 a stained window was inserted by public subscription as a memorial to Her late Majesty Queen Victoria.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1538.