A SHORT HISTORY

The Parish Church of Welford, Northamptonshire, is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, and dates from the 13th Century. 
There is a tradition of a still earlier Church ( circa 1100 ) in connection with a small religious house which said to have started here, 
but which moved to land between this village and Naseby and was known as Sulby Abbey. 
After the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII the Abbey fell into ruin. Probably the present farmhouse on the site was built 
from the stones. The reason for the removal from Welford was the granting of more land by either the Wyvill or the Hastings family. 
The present Church was under the patronage of Sulby Abbey until the dissolution; passing into the hands of one Dorothy Dayrell, widow, 
in 1557, Queen Elizabeth in 1561, the Bishop of Oxford in 1629, and since 1890, The Bishop of Peterborough.
The tradition of an earlier Church is supported by the finding of a Priest's Chalice, (12th century) made of lead, which was 
dug up in the Churchyard and is now to be seen in a recess in the North Wall of the Church. 
Another tradition speaks of an un underground passage from the Church to Sulby Abbey, but nothing of this has ever been discovered.
As we see the Church today, the oldest portion is the South Aisle (13th century, Henry III). The Nave, Chancel and 
Clerestory are 14th to 15th century ( Edward II to Henry VII ). Very little remains of the 14th century North Aisle & Pillars. 
It was rebuilt in 1872. At the same time the Church was re-seated with the present oak pews, the South Porch was added and 
gallery at the West End removed.  
The North and South Chantries are divided from the aisles by carved oak screens of the 17th century. 
There is a similar screen across the Tower arch. The South Chantry, which is now used as a Vestry, is of the 15th century and the 
North somewhat later. 
The North Chantry was restored in 1921 by Major & Mrs Guy Paget in memory of the 101 men of Welford and Sulby 
who fought in the 1914 - 1918 war, 27 of whom were killed. A tablet also commemorates Frederick des Voeux, Mrs Paget's brother, 
who fell during the war.

The Tower is of the 15th Century, is embattled, and in four stages. It contains 8 bells. 

The Churchyard contains a Memorial Calvary to the 34 men of Welford and Sulby who fell in the 1914 - 1918 and 1939 - 1945 wars. 
The Churchyard has been closed for burials for many years. 

It contains many old tombstones, one which, dated 1729 bears the inscription: 
"She first departed, He for a little Try'd to live without her, lik'd it not, and dyd"

In 1894 the extension to the Churchyard on the opposite side of the road was consecrated. It has since been enlarged.       

St Mary's Church in Summer 1999

St Mary's Church December 28th 2000

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