A Brief History and Tour of St Mary & St Giles, Stony Stratford

A History of St Mary and St Giles, Stony Stratford
The church of of St Mary and St Giles, Stony Stratford is part of the rich history of the whole Christian
Church as it has sought to worship and bear witness to its Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is, as well, part
of the rich tapestry of Stony Stratford.

The Roman Watling Street around which the town of Stony Stratford developed, was the boundary between
the ancient manors of Calverton and Wolverton.  To cater for the spiritual needs of travellers along this
great  highway, both manors provided chapels of ease in Stony Stratford, which thus became the first town
In Buckinghamshire to have two churches.  The churches were dedicated to St Giles and St Mary
Magdalene, respectively, and fairs were held in the town on the festivals of these saints.

These early chapels were extended or rebuilt and by the 15th century had become substantial buildings but
in 1742, the church of St Mary Magdalene burnt down, only the tower surviving (this can still be seen on the
north-east side of the High Street). Although an appeal was launched to rebuild the church, it was decided
instead to rebuild and enlarge the church of St Giles. Between 1640 and 1661, when John Knight was
Rector of Calverton, St Giles had become a parish in its own right and ceased to be a chapel of ease of
All Saints, Calverton. The 15th century tower was retained, and to this was added the nave which we see
today with its slender fluted columns and vaulted ceiling with plaster ribbed groins. The rebuilding was
completed in 1777 and although it was built in the Georgian period the architectural style is known as
Strawberry Gothic-is this an intimation of the Gothic Revival?

In the Victorian era vestries were built, stained glass memorial windows were incorporated, the simple
Georgian gallery was extended and decorated, a Gothic chancel screen was installed, and a Lady chapel
was created in the south-east corner of the nave. During this century changes have continued: the apsidal
anctuary was replaced with the sanctuary we see today; whilst later the lychgate and Calvary in the south-
East corner of the churchyard were built.

In 1868 the parish of Wolverton, which covered much of the eastern and southern sides of the town, had
established a daughter church of St Mary the Virgin in London Road, built to an early design by Sir George
Gilbert Scott. A Vicarage (now the Working Men's Club), two Curates' houses (formerly combined as the
Vicarage of St Mary & St Giles) and Parish Hall were built as well. Stony Stratford again had two churches.
This later became a parish in its own right. It was a parish church with a rich tradition. Its priests were
supporters of the Tractarian Movement in the Church of England that sought to restore Catholic belief and
practice. Some of its priests were persecuted for what were regarded as "ritual offences." Both churches
in Stony Stratford increasingly worked more closely together as their tradition was similar.

So in 1964, when a fire caused considerable damage to the interior of St Giles, the Oxford Diocesan
authorities questioned the need for two churches and parish priests in Stony Stratford. At first it was thought
that the church of St Mary the Virgin should be extended and made the Parish Church for the town.
However, petitions were made and it was decided to retain the church of St Giles and close the church of
St Mary the Virgin. The richly decorated interior of St Giles was badly damaged by smoke from the fire and
the decision was taken to re-order rather than replace.


(continued...)