Places of prayer and worship through the ages
The church buildings in our benefice have been places of prayer and worship for centuries. Indeed, it is a privilege and a pleasure to worship there. Here, we hope to tell you more about the history of the buildings and access to the buildings. If you wish to visit one of our churches but find it locked, please contact one of the clergy members so it can be opened. Whilst we know these buildings form a vital part of Britain’s built heritage, they are still very much in use today, serving their intended purpose. All we ask is that you love our buildings as much as we love them and know that we are only caretakers for a time.
To find out more about services and service times, click here
St Peter’s Irthlingborough
A beacon across the Nene St Peter’s is large odd looking compared to other churches in the area. The odd shape is because the tower was once home to a college of 6 priests who would have lived here. The widow of John Pyel founded a college here in 1388. John Pyel was from Irthlingborough; he moved to London, eventually becoming a mercer and then Lord Mayor in 1372. Eventually, he bought the manor of Irthlingborough in 1354 and got a licence in 1375 to build a collegiate church. He never saw it finished, but we were left with a beautiful building overlooking the Nene River. The local rumour is that the Octagon Tower would once have helped travellers navigate across the marshy banks of the river.
Services: Every Sunday 8am for Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer and at 10.30 am for Holy Communion with hymns and Junior Church during term time. Coffee and Tea is available after the service.
Accessibility: The church is usually locked unless services are taking place. Access can be difficult there is a ramp inside the porch to allow access in to the church. The floor is uneven and at different levels in places. The toilet can be accessed but requires entry through a seperate door via an external entrance. The 10.30am service is led via projector; the 8am service is from an order of service booklet, currently there are no large print booklets available.
SAT Nav: Church Street, Irthlingborough, Wellingborough NN9 5SG
St Mary the Virgin, Little Addington
St Mary’s is a gorgeous little country church. Dating from the end of the 13th century to the middle of the 14th century, it was probably complete by 1350. Embraced on either side by the aisles, the tower is probably a later addition. The church then underwent a restoration during the Victorian period (1857). Architect E.F. Law oversaw this restoration. Since then, we’ve made some modifications, including a toilet and servery. There is also a meeting space at the west end of the north aisle. A word of warning: the main entrance to the church is up a steep bank; please take care on your way up.
Services: We meet Sunday at 9.15am some weeks we have Holy Communion other weeks we have a service of Morning Prayer usually with hymns. After our services we have coffee or tea and a nice chat.
Accessibility: Access to the church is limited due to the steep slope and steep steps up into the church at the south door. The west door (tower) can be opened on request which provides level access into the church. There is also easier access from the footpath at the west end of the churchyard which goes between the High Street and Top End. The church is normally open most days. Our services are on printed orders of service, currently no large print is available. We use a projector and screen when we can.
SAT Nav: High St, Little Addington, Kettering NN14 4BD
All Saints, Great Addington
Built between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, All Saints is a lovely rural parish church. The chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century, which is why the windows are different from those of the nave. Later, the Victorians restored the church in the 1880s/1890s.
All saints has some lovely quirks notably the battlements which have arrow cross slits in them, why? No one knows. The south porch is also quirky, with the entrance arch probably from an earlier building. We know this from the zigzag style of the arch. Most of the furniture inside is from the 19th century. The pulpit, however, is from the 17th century and has a Puritan plainness. The stained glass is mainly Victorian, but some windows are made up of an assemblage of medieval glass fragments. The medieval stained glass hints at what might have been here before the Reformation.
Services: We meet at 9.15am on a Sunday. Our services are a mix of Holy Communion and Morning Prayer usually with hymns at both followed by coffee and tea.
Accessiblity: Access is via an uneven path from the main road, there are two shallow steps up into the church. The floor inside is uneven and on various levels. There is no toilet at this church. The church is normally open. Our services are on printed orders of service, currently no large print is available.
SAT Nav: Great Addington, Kettering NN14 4BH
St Mary the Virgin, Woodford
Woodford Church is one of those churches where there is more history than time to tell. Needless to say, St Mary the Virgin is a delight with plenty of treasures to uncover. For example, a crusader’s heart rests inside a column of the nave. There is also a 14th-century wooden effigy of an unknown knight and a lady.
Work started on the church sometime in the 12th century. Most of what you can see dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. The church’s original footprint would have been much smaller than it is today, and if you look towards the east end of the church from the west, you will notice two chancel arches. The current chancel was added in the late 13th century. The tower was started around 1250 and completed sometime in the 14th century.
As with most churches, the Victorians restored St Mary’s. The high church tradition is evident in the 19th-century reordering of the church. James Fowler of Louth did the work in the chancel around 1865/6. William Slater reordered/restored the nave at about the same time. St Mary the Virgin is open most days and is well worth visiting.
Services: We have services most Sunday's at 10.45am. Our services are a mix of Holy Communion and Morning Prayer usually with hymns at both followed by coffee and tea. We have a childrens corner at the back of the church.
Accessibility: The church is open everyday, access via the main path round to the north. The floor is uneven due to age so caution is needed. Our orders of service are printed and currently large print is unavailable.
SAT Nav: Church Street, Woodford, Kettering NN14 4EX
Our churches are part of the a benefice within the Diocese of Peterborough. To find out more about Diocese of Peterborough click here.
The Diocese of Peterborough and the Nene Crossings Benefice are part of the Church of England. To find out more about the Church of England click here.