The Revd Graham Collingridge became vicar of Long Buckby, Watford, West Haddon and Winwick in in June 2013 and retired in September 2022. We hope to have a new vicar in place by Easter 2023.
Visit: 'www.onechurch4parishes.co.uk' for more information.
About Our Grade I Listed Church....
On entering the churchyard through the Millennium Gates it's hard not to be struck
by the sense of history associated with this fine Grade 1 Listed church. One can
imagine the bustle around the building on Sundays past when local parishioners
flocked to services, on foot, horseback, carriages and cars. Of course, there were
also many weddings funerals and special events celebrated in the church. As you
walk towards the church entrance there are many glimpses of days past.
Built of Northamptonshire stone, the church itself is an imposing structure, with a
significant embattled bell tower. The headstones around you identify the families
associated with the Village dating back many years. You also see the Commonwealth War Grave commemorating
the untimely death of 21-year-old Private George Cheney in 1920 and the newly installed commemorative bench.
Ivy-clad high stone walls surround the well-attended churchyard with areas of wildflowers, grassland well-established trees, it's a picturesque, peaceful and atmospheric experience.
Turning right at the end of the pathway leads you to the porch and the church doors. The inside of the church is just as imposing with amazing lighting provided by beautiful stained glass windows towering above the altar. Steeped in history, which may date back to a structure on the site in the 1200s, the current building was founded around 1300 with additional works during the 14th and 15th centuries. The structure shows many architectural features typical of those times.
There are a number of carved spherical arches in the walls of the aisles and well-preserved medieval carvings, tomb recesses and stone ornaments. There is a rare wooden monument commemorating Susanna Eyton d.1631
The local families of Clerke, Henley, Eden and Peel are also commemorated. Family roles and connections can be traced back to government ministers and Prime Ministers of the day.
The organ was installed in 1894 during restoration work when a new nave roof was also added. Exploring the bell tower, still in full working order, up a narrow flight of stone steps, you find it houses 6 bells dating from 1721, installed by George Day & Sons of Suffolk and a working clock. The bells still ring out on occasion, a wonderful rich sound.
In 2018 the church was named one of Northamptonshire's 100 Best Churches, for more information visit:
https://www.northamptonshiresurprise.com/churches
