On the 31st May 1808 a barn belonging to a Mr C J Metcalf (Lord of the Manor, Roxton Park)was opened for “preaching on the Lord’s day ...” The Reverened W Stevens of London preached in the mornings and Reverened S Hillyard of Bedford in the evenings. When no pastor was able to be procured Mr Metcalfe conducted the services.
By 1822 Roxton chapel was adopted as an Independent church. The Barn was enlarged and altered, into the unique thatch roofed and rustic looking meeting house we see today. The alterations included two wings that contained rooms for a day school and Sunday School.
According to a church census of 1851 105 adults and 70 Sunday scholars attended the morning service, with 130 adults and 75 Sunday scholars attending in the evening. Obviously a very popular church and with a congregation comparable with the Anglican church of St. Mary Magdelene.
During the second world war the chapel had a narrow miss, again as reported byH.G.Tibbutt in the Church Book: "During the evening service on Sunday, December 17th [1944], we were somewhat alarmed when a flying bomb seemed to pass very low over the chapel and crashed in a field a short distance away. The only damage done to the chapel was a fused electric bulb and a few small panes loosened. the bomb cut the overhead cable and cast us into darkness, but our minister calmly went on with his sermon and then ended the service with the benediction". The County Control did not record this incident but did record one nearby a week earlier: Great Barford: V1 flying bomb also containing propaganda leaflets exploded at Northfield Farm, 150 yards west of Windmill Road; (10 Dec 1944) [WW2/AR/CO/2/3].
The interior of the church is very simple with rustic benches and Gothic Window. There are good views over Roxton Park from the South Wing.
A very attractive church and still in use to this day.
The cache is NOT located within the Church grounds.
“If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first at churchmicro@gmail.com so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication. There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page found via the Bookmark list”