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St. Mary’s Luton
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inspired by change inspired by change
 inspired by change inspired by change
 inspired by change inspired by change
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St Mary's Parish Church, Church Street, Luton, Bedfordshire. LU1 3JF.   01582 721867   admin@stmarysluton.org
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People have been worshiping and following Jesus Christ on the St Mary’s site for over 1000 years. In every generation Christians have extended and developed the buildings to help people in the local community follow and serve Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
Hand-in-hand the best of the old has been preserved and the best of the new introduced. In just the last ten years alone we’ve restored the heating system, moved the pulpit (back to its original position!), put in new seating and brought
in video projection screens to aid our communication of the Gospel.
The church building you see today is the largest in Bedfordshire and one of the finer medieval churches in England. It dates mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries. The earlier church was built about 931, founded by King Athelstan as an act of thanksgiving for victory over the Danes. The land here was owned by the king in Saxon and early Norman times and the church was very richly endowed. The present building was founded on a new site about 1121 by Robert, Earl of Gloucester and consecrated in 1137. The Normans built it cruciform, without aisles but having a central tower. The population increased, so a south aisle was added c1190 and a north aisle c1230, their arches from the transepts being the earliest dateable features in situ.
Further enlargements of the building were made in the early 14th century - a noble tower was added and the transepts were probably extended, with twin arches opening into the new chapels on their east side. A vaulted sacristy with an upper room was built north of the chancel. A new font was given a unique canopy of stone, octagonal, with panels and gables, entirely decorated with an amazing variety of leaf carvings.
During the 15th century there was much rebuilding in Perpendicular style. In 1461 Lord John Wenlock (whose family had been connected with the manor since 1389), rebuilt and extended Someries Chapel, with its big windows and magnificent double-arched stone screen. The sacristy was re-erected further east. Finally, the west tower was made taller and most windows renewed. All this work gives the building its grandeur and spaciousness.
Restorations began in 1865, initiated by the vicar, James O’Neill; They included G.E.Street’s east window of oversize triple lancets and raising the chancel floor. Flint and stone chequer, original to the tower, was extended to other walls. The tower was restored in 1906 and the Wenlock Chapel in 1914.
Extensions were added in 1968, comprising hall, offices and vestry, planned to blend with the old building. The Magnificat Window in the south transept was designed by Alan Younger and installed in 1979. Two new bells were added to the peal of ten in 1984. The Church Clock was restored in 1999.
The Clock of St.Mary’s had remained silent for 28 years. With the New Millennium fast approaching, the University of Luton wished to celebrate the links between the Church and the University and offered to restore the clock to its former glory so that it could chime in the New Year.
Armistice Day (11 November 1999), traditionally a day when a time of silence is observed, was seen as a good day on which to break the clock`s long silence and to celebrate its restoration.
The clock originally installed in October 1901 by the makers, J. W. Benson Ltd of Ludgate Hill, London, at a cost of £170 and 10/- (shillings). Regular maintenance was carried out by Mr R Honeybone, a watchmaker and jeweller of Park Street, Luton. He carved his name in the clock tower for posterity. His duties included winding the clock twice a week and for this he was paid £8 a year.
The clock has always faced west and now stares out at the University’s Resources Centre, enabling the students to see their essay deadline fast approach, just like their forebears at Luton Modern School, which had previously been on that site. The first overhaul of the clock took place in 1909 and in 1949 it was restored with the addition of a new bell. However, the chiming mechanism gave up entirely in 1971 and so the chimes have not been heard since, until the re-activation at Noon on 11th November 1999.
The restoration work included repairs to the clock face, reinstatement of the mechanism to full working order, provision of an auto-wind facility and the redecoration of the existing dial. Floodlights have also been installed to highlight the clock at night. The restoration work was carried out by Messrs. Gillett & Johnson of South Croydon ,Surrey and was sponsored by the University of Luton for the benefit of St. Mary`s and the people of Luton.
At the ceremony to mark the recommencement of the chimes, held on 11th November 1999, Revd. Nick Bell unveiled a plaque, which is situated in the Bellringing chamber next to the clock mechanism, and received from the University, an engraved crystal rose bowl on behalf of St. Mary’s as a momento of the occasion.