There is very little on record of worship in the village from the dissolution of the Knights Hospitaller in 1542 until the mid-19th century. However there are strong links with John Bunyan, who held regular services in a natural amphitheatre – still known as Bunyan’s Dell – in Wain Wood in the 1660s. The villagers were staunch followers of Bunyan, and they built a chapel in 1877 which was regularly used for worship until about 1985. As far as Anglican worship is concerned, Preston was not large enough to support a church and was part of the Parish of Hitchin. However the curate of St Mary’s, Hitchin, who was responsible for the spiritual welfare of Preston, the Rev. B.N.Switzer, suggested that a Mr Pryor should donate one acre of his land for a Church and Burial Ground.
On January 28th 1899, Mr T.B.Carter, submitted a design with an estimated cost of £1200. This was accepted and the people of Preston undertook to raise the money. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs MacMillan (an aunt of Sir Harold MacMillan), who was then living at Temple Dinsley, on St Martin’s Day, 11th November 1899. The church was consecrated as St Martin’s by the Bishop of St Albans on 14th July 1900. It has been described as:
“A simple little building set in a formal churchyard, with curiously domestic details reminiscent of C.F.A. Voysey (a prominent turn-of-the-century architect). With a pebble-dashed exterior, steep slate roof and plain nave windows between battered buttresses linked by segmental arches. At the west end is a stumpy towerlet with a gable for bells.”
The east window was designed by Christopher Whall and represents the Tree of Jesse. This beautiful window was completely restored in 2005. The window in the south chancel wall is a memorial to Julian Royds Gribble VC, brother of Mrs Leslie Seebohm; it shows Mr Gribble’s face on a representation of St Martin.
You are looking for a magnetic nano, which is located outside the church yard and is easily accessible on foot, care must be taken when crossing the lanes. However getting around the church yard especially in winter will be difficult for wheel chair users.
Find the grave stone of Hugh Exton Seebohm, the year he died is A,B,C,D.
Next find the grave stone of Sir Joseph Child Priestly, the year he was born is E,F,G,H.
Cache is at N51 5C.(G-A)(H+A)H W000 1(F-E).H(B-A)(D+E)
Well done to hitchgeoc for FTF and to 01582 for STF 