Church of All Saints, Houghton Conquest

Church of All Saints is a Grade I listed church in Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire, England. It became a listed building on 23 January 1961. The parish church, dedicated to All Saints, was built during the 14th century. There are also several monuments. Houghton Conquest's rectory was united with that of Houghton-Gildable in 1637, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln. It was under the patronage of the Master and Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge. On 4 October 2018 it was reported that the entire lead roof had been stolen. Architecture and fittings The church is spacious, built in the Early English Period and Decorated styles. It consists of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch, and an embattled tower containing six bells. It was repaired in 1845. The stained-glass east window, erected in 1880 by John William Burgon, Dean of Chichester, is a memorial to three benefactors. Built in 1830, some of the walls bear traces of frescoes, the designs of which are in some parts sufficiently distinct to be distinguished. Over the north doorway is a huge painting of St Christopher, of the 15th century. On the north walls of the chancel, there is a monument of carved alabaster. There is also an altar slab from 1644, as well as a few mutilated brasses. The register dates from the year 1595. Rectors The following rectors are named in The History of All Saints Church Houghton Conquest, by G. P. K. Winlaw, and other sources as cited: before 1285: William de Lubenham 1285: Geoffrey Conquest 1303: Robert de Suddebrok 1306: Robert de Morecore 1312: John de la Bourne 1323: John Speling of Kerdington 1323: Simon de Northwode 1331: William de Gayton 1337: William Conquest 1337: John Conquest 1349: Henry Balle of Aldwyncle 1366: Geoffrey Burgh 1399: John Drugge of Kerdington 1403: John Jainyil 1409: John Mason, The Vicar of Ampthill 1409: William Stewenys (Stephens) 1409: Ralph Conquest 1425: W. Gunwardy, The Bishop of Dunkeld 1451: William Hoveden 1453: John Freman 1456: John Cras 1457: John Dey 1461: John Tapert 1461: Thomas Dey 1461: John Bowland 1464: Henry Abraham 1465: William Stanford 1483: Thomas Yerburgh 1489: Richard Wright 1491: John Underhill 1509: Thomas Hunne 1510: Humphrey Gascoigne 1515: William Frankelyn 1524: Ralph Cooke 1531: William Coven 1536: Thomas Birde 1542: John Oldestocke 1549: William Tatchame 1551: William Walker 1557: John Holdstocke from other sources: 1589-1631: Thomas Archer (1554 - 1631), local antiquarian 1632: Edward Martin (died 1662), dean of Ely 1654: John Poynter (1600–1684), canon of Christ Church Oxford 1656-1662: Samuel Fairclough (c. 1625 - 1691) ejected 1662 in favour of Edward Martin above (who then died) 4 April 1725: Zachary Grey (1688 – 1766), and vicar of St Giles's and St Peter's in Cambridge 1837-1873: Henry John Rose (1800 - 1873), theologian and antiquarian In addition, two other people have been named as rector: Edward Woodley Bowling, named Rev. Birch Herbert W. Macklin See also Grade I listed buildings in Bedfordshire References This article includes text incorporated from E.R. Kelly's "Kelly's directory of Bedfordshire, Hunts and Northamptonshire." (1885), a publication now in the public domain.