Layston Church Regal Art Publishing Co (R.A.P. Ltd) - possibly mid 20th century

Layston Church, Buntingford Posted 18 August, 1911   To Mrs Freeman, Wood End, Ardley, nr Stevenage From 61 Clarence Rd, Wood Green Dear Mother , M & B arrived safe hope you are feeling better all is quiet at present but the railway men are all ordered out to night at once so I don't know how it will end I will send you the papers when we know so cheer up  Love to all W.M.B   Refers to August 1911 Railway Strike

 

The opening of the restored Chapel-of-Ease of St. Peter, as the Parish Church of Layston, or rather of Buntingford, marks another phase in a curious piece of Buntingford history. Layston Church still stands on a hill half-a-mile outside the town of Buntingford, but very early in its history the parishioners preferred to live near the great highway of the North Road, and the town of Buntingford, like Royston, grew up without a parish of its own, but consisting of a thriving community situate in several parishes, but chiefly in Layston. At a very early period in their history, the parishioners of Layston, being thus settled in their homes a considerable distance from the Parish Church, found the need of some provision of a place of worship in their midst.

Layston Church of St. Bartholomew has long since been in such a state of dilapidation and decay as to be quite unfit for public worship. The Chapel-of-Ease, St. Peter's, at the southern entrance to the town of Buntingford, also began to show the ravages of time to such an extent thal restoration was urgently needed. When the Rev. A. Howard became Vicar of Layston, he at once determined to do what be could to get the Chapel restored.

The old Chapel was built, as the Rev. Alexander Strange, D.D. states, because the Parish Church was half-a-mile from the town, and so inconvenient to the inhabitants. Though the date on the edifice is 1615, it really took the good Prebendary Strange no less that 12 years to complete the work. ... ...

Herts & Cambs Reporter & Royston Crow 19 October, 1900

 

Thieves in the belfry

Two church bells weighing between seven and eight hundredweight have been stolen from the top of a 60ft. church tower. where they have hung for 331 years. The bells. worth hundreds of pounds. vanished after the people of Buntingford, Herts, saw a lorry at the half-ruined St. Bartholomew's Church, Layston, on the outskirts of the town.

The Rev. Robert L Williams. Vicar of Buntingford. said yesterday "It would have needed four men to get the bells down the circular stone staircase. They must have used block and tackle. I don't suppose the stairs have been touched since the tower was built about 1200."

Daily Mirror, 20 March 1964

 

This church became ruined and has now been restored as a private house

Extensive historical details and information on the restoration

on the Layton Church web site.