The
original church may date from the 11th century but the tower was
built about 1250. In 1670 the roof was lowered and an upper storey
was built with a row of windows to light the inside of the church.
The original line of the steep-angled pitched roof can still be
seen on the east wall of the tower.
In 1255, Ravenstone Priory was founded for the St Augustine Canons,
by Peter de Chaseport, Keeper of the Royal Wardrobe. It was dissolved
in 1524 by Cardinal Wolsey, prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries
by Henry VIII between 1536 & 1540, to raise money for the Crown.
A few years later the Finch chapel was built on to the south side
of the church to receive the body of Lady Elizabeth Finch who succeeded
to the estate on the death of her father in 1595, becoming one of
the richest women in England. The chapel monument in black and white
marble is inscribed in Latin and English and is attributed to either
Joseph Catterns or William Stanton.
Lady
Elizabeth’s grandson, Heneage, the First Earl of Nottingham
also became Solicitor General and Baronet of Ravenstone in 1660.
He lived at Nottingham House until 1689 when it was bought by William
III who changed the name to Kensington Palace.(www.royal.gov.uk)
Many members of the Royal Family have since been born or died there.
Sir Heneage Finch of Ravenstone, Bucks is mentioned in the diary
of Samuel Pepys in 1660 & 1661. (www.pepysdiary.com) He died
and was buried at Ravenstone in 1682.
A
special feature of the Church is the new east window, dedicated
in 1965. At the top of the window is the all-seeing eye of God,
the Father. Immediately below is the hovering Dove of God, the Holy
Ghost, who, with the central figure of God, the Son, make up the
Blessed Trinity. On either side are the crossed swords of the Martyr
Saints and the crossed palms of victory for All Saints, to whom
the church is dedicated.
Across the base is a collection of buildings representing the village
of Ravenstone.
The
church tower houses three bells: one dates from the 14th century
and the other two from the 17th century. The pancake bell was rung
in Ravenstone up to 1852 and is still rung in Olney every year.
There
are four churches in Ravenstone Parish, known locally as the Gate
Group and it includes Stoke Goldington, Ravenstone, Weston Underwood
and Gayhurst. The vicar is Rev. Alex Murdoch. Top
