Buckden - a Huntingdonshire Village

A HISTORY OF ST MARY’S, THE PARISH CHURCH 126 White’s soon after. In May, they were re-hung twenty feet below their original position, in order to preserve the oak frame and to reduce the risk of structural damage to the tower. The cost of the whole operation had been £30,000. Parishioners had a wonderful day when all six bells were rung for the first time following the Service of Dedication and Celebration, which was conducted by Bishop John Dennis, on 8 June 1997. Buckden’s Living Stones The Millennium Bell project had used up most of the funds raised; additionally the proposed meeting hall, etc. had run into problems with the planning authorities. Although the plans were finalised in 1999, a further five years were to pass before the authorities and English Heritage were able to agree on a suitable extension to the north and north-east side of the church. The Buckden’s Living Stones Appeal was formed to develop funding for the extension project and to guide the construction management, all under the authority of the PCC. The target was now £575,000 and fundraising recommenced immediately. There have been some exciting events since then including piano and organ recitals, golf days, a magnificent exhibition of quilts, open gardens at Stirtloe House, guided tours of the church, an art and sculpture exhibition, a teddy bear ‘death slide’, choir singing and a Sounds Spectacular. The Appeal was launched on 9 September 2004, when for three straight days, the Bible was read non-stop by volunteers from the congregation and friends of the church. They read all 787,000 words and finished exquisitely during the Thanksgiving Service at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 12 September. A very generous £13,880 was raised by this event. All participants agreed that the greatest reward was the spirit of friendship and love throughout the reading. By November 2005, £162,000 had been raised and this sum was sufficient encouragement to commence work. In October, the gravestones to the north-east of the church were moved in preparation for the below ground and foundation work. Any known descendants of those whose headstones were to be moved were contacted, and no interments were disturbed. A bonus from this preparatory work has been the discovery of four formerly buried headstones and the revelation of previously hidden details on other monuments. All involved are hopeful that the new kitchen, toilets and meeting room will be ready for the use of village and church groups in 2010. References & bibliography (with locations where appropriate) NB Since mid-2009, ‘Huntingdonshire Archives’ has been the new title for the Huntingdon County Record Office (HCRO). Alnwick (Bp. Wm.) Court Book & Transcript 1446-1452 Lincolnshire Archives An Account of the Parish Church of St. Mary's Buckden 1973 & 1985 Phillip Morgan Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. c. AD 1-1140 Public domain British Library London Buckden Church Report on the Bellframe, 1994 C. Pickford Buckden Palace R. H. Edleston 1928 Buckden Parish Registers, 1559 - 1921 et seq. Huntingdonshire Archives Buckden Parish Wardens' Accounts 1627-1774, Vestry Book, Assets Book Huntingdonshire Archives Cambs. & Hunts. Archaeological Society: Transactions & Proceedings 1890-1920 Huntingdonshire Archives & Norris Museum, St Ives