The History of St Mark's Church

1970 Small group ecumenical group meets at Parkwood School 

1972 The beginning of an ecumenical experiment

22 July 1977  Opening and Dedication of the first church/community building  by The Right Reverend Robert Runcie, Lord Bishop of St Albans

and The Reverend Richard L.J.Kaye, Chairman of London North West District of the Methodist Church.

Architect - David N. Sutcliffe RIBA.

Building Contractors - L.A.H. Ames Ltd

Makers of Sanctuary Furniture - T A Bickerton and Sons Ltd St Albans 

10 March 1986 Institution and Induction of The Reverend David Dredge as Vicar of the Parish

15 December 1997 Consecration of the Chapel and Vestry by The Right Reverend and Right Honourable the Lord Runcie of Cuddesdon and The Reverend Garth Rogers, Chairman of the London North West District of the Methodist Church and The Reverend Canon Robin Brown, Rural Dean of Bedford.

17 July 1984 Service of Consecration of the new church by The Right Reverend John B Taylor Bishop of St Albans with The Reverend Stanley Chesworth Chairman of London N W District of the Methodist Church. This was three years in the planning.

8 February 1991 Collation and Induction of The Reverend Charles Royden as Vicar of the Parish of North Brickhill and Putnoe by The Bishop of Bedford The Right Reverend David Farmbrough and the Archdeacon of Bedford

1992 Consecration of the Garden of Remembrance

September 2003 Appointment of The Reverend Neil Bramble-Chapman as Methodist Minister in the North Bedford Church Partnership  

Two Stories

Early beginnings of St Mark’s, Bedford.  by Marion Prior 2022

Having moved to Bedford in December 1969, I started to look for a new church to join.  After a few weeks at Christchurch, I heard about a “planting” group starting up in Brickhill. I went along to services held in Brickhill Middle School (now demolished) which were led by members of St Mary’s congregation, the planters.  Shortly afterwards the group moved to meet at Parkwood Middle school, and a big service was held at which it was announced that there would be a Methodist/Anglican partnership, sharing with Putnoe Methodist church.

From 1970 onwards we met in a small hall at the rear of Parkwood School.  Services alternated between Methodist format and Anglican, depending on which minister was officiating.  The congregation grew little by little, and Sunday School started.  Gradually new things were added to worship – small posies of flowers came with one member, I played the piano, and eventually we were able to have coffee after the services. Meanwhile we were excited to hear of progress towards the building of the new church in Calder Rise.  Originally there was a multipurpose Hall, with “portable!” furniture, so it could be a hall all week, and a Church on Sundays.  There was also a small hall behind, plus a foyer, kitchen, and Vestry, (which had to house the portable furniture).  Land below the building was put to good use by members starting small allotments.  I grew raspberries, potatoes, and I think runner beans.  The land between church and vicarage was a bonfire site, and grew wild, but some gardening happened outside the vestry.  The Hall was consecrated in the summer of 1977 and a choir performed ”Visit O Lord this house”.  A harmonium provided the accompaniment to singing at services, which continued to alternate between Anglican and Methodist formats.

The allotments had to give way to building work as the Church building got started. It was completed and dedicated on Tuesday 17 July 1984 with an extended kitchen, new vestry, office, and enlarged foyer.  We had a proper organ, a concrete surface in the middle of the car park, but again, furniture that was able to be moved aside to allow a variety of activities throughout the week.  The growth of the community centre continued with the appointment of a centre manager.

In 2005 a chapel was added as a place of quiet contemplation, and for small services for which the money was collected before building started.

A portacabin was erected to house Autism Bedfordshire, between the church and the Calder Rise boundary, but later this group moved into the back of the church to allow a ground and first floor extension (assisted by grants from Wren and Biffa, Waste Disposal companies who paid landfill tax) for further use by community groups.  Autism Bedfordshire outgrew its space, and moved away, but this enabled pre-school to extend its activities.

Alongside all this growth, a beautiful garden of remembrance for the interment of ashes, has been created, surrounding the building by the purchase of small parcels of land on the playground from Bedford Borough Council, and by building up land we already had.

The addition of a veranda roof over the top pathway manufactured by Crocodile in 2022 completed the structures of St Marks, and I am proud to have been a part of all these developments.  Marion P Prior

The Story of St Mark's - A personal reflection by Mary Stubbs 1994

If we were going to write a truly comprehensive history of this church, then there would have to be as many chapters as individual members! This therefore is only one person's chapter. 

In the early 1970's Putnoe and North Brickhill were expanding rapidly. At the same time the Church of England and the Methodist Church were talking about closer union, and there was much encouragement and co- operation for establishing a joint church. Methodists operating a Sunday School in Scott School and Anglicans worshipping in Brickhill School were drawn together, and North Brickhill and Putnoe became an 'area of ecumenical experiment', with two church centres - one at Putnoe Heights Methodist Church and one in Brickhill in Park Wood School, with a youth club in Scott School, and study groups and other meetings in people's homes. We had a full time Church of England Priest-in- Charge, together with the Methodist Minister from Putnoe. 

Those early days had an atmosphere of excitement and challenge. Christians were talking about, writing about, preaching about and praying about unity - now we had a chance to demonstrate it. 

I think it helped that we made a fresh start. Methodists did not have to get used to worship in a Gothic type building shaped like a cross, with the altar barely visible behind the choir screen; nor the Anglicans have to cope in a square 19th century chapel, with the pulpit as the 

prominent feature dominating a small communion table! 

We had a neutral, secular school dining hall with a table, small cross, the Bible, the bread and wine, people from both denominations taking a share of reading and praying in Anglican and Methodist communions, all meeting round the table in a circle symbolising our unity and fellowship. 

We moved to the present site in 1977 into what was a dual purpose hall; this was real progress. As well as Bible Study and prayer groups in homes, on the premises we had youth activities, playgroup, Mums and Toddlers, meetings, drama, concerts, social events and meals - we have always been good at feeding others and ourselves! Then every Saturday, the ritual of setting out chairs and sanctuary furniture for Sunday worship. Our present altar, chairs, tables and lectern were designed so that they could fit through a standard doorway! This was to enable them to be taken into a side room, the old vestry, where they fitted together for their weekday hibernation. One hall was used every day for different activities and members of the congregation cultivated allotments on the site of the present church. 

On Sundays, with rarely enough time or space, we were committed to sacramental worship, the preaching of the word, and the development of Junior Church and youth activities. We sought to combine our differing traditions sensitively so that no one would feel that too much had been denied or undervalued. 

The nature of worship, our Sunday pattern, and the times of services were regularly discussed at church council meetings, as well as arguments on what now seem to be trivial matters, but which then were important as parts of our traditions. For instance, Methodists experienced having communions every Sunday; Anglicans listened to longer sermons! We learnt how to dispose reverently of consecrated bread and wine, and about Methodist attachment to little glass cups instead of a chalice (their use discontinued when it became necessary to buy more!) We agreed to use the Methodist hymn book instead of Hymns Ancient and Modem, because Methodists felt so strongly about hymns and we accepted that this church would be consecrated to a saint. 

Through all of our differing views and opinions about worship, ministry and church structures we were learning about each other, broadening our understanding, and as we grew in trust, our sharing was based on a willingness to deny ourselves. We found we liked each other, had a lot of fun, and enjoyed the freedom to experiment. Our first Joint Confirmation Service was in 1974. Although sometimes we felt rather insecure, deep down we knew if it were God's will, we were here to stay. 

The big step in faith, in the early 1980s, was deciding to go for building the present church. It was built because it was very much needed, not because one of the local clergy was worried that we hadn't got, to use his phrase, 'A God-shaped box that people would want to 

be married and buried in'. 

This huge commitment was only possible because we trusted God and each other. Like the first church it was again another warehouse building but with luxuries like stained glass and comfortable chairs. When it was built we thought we had finished moving chairs every week after the service to make room for events during the week. We now had a church hall and a separate church building. However as the place of the church in the community has grown and the church itself is used during the week as well as the hall, we are doing it all over again - and that is marvellous! It was felt strongly that we could only justify the money on another building, if it could be used in the service of the community. 

So the last ten years have seen further developments, such as stronger partnership and planning with Putnoe Heights Church; the interchangeability of the ministers; more outreach into the community and refurbishment of our property and grounds to make them more effective. 

We have had our disappointments, hurts and failures, the latter particularly in explaining ourselves to other churches. It seemed difficult for some people to understand that we weren't sharing only a building - but - our ministers, our worship, our pastoral care, our finance, organisation and outreach. Perhaps it was just too much of a challenge. Although it doesn't matter at all what our different backgrounds are, I'm glad we still advertise our roots and our authority as part of two national churches, linked through them to the universal church. 

In 1970 this site was a barren space - now we have a beautiful welcoming church, a Garden of Remembrance and a well cared for and used Church Centre and grounds. For me there is a kind of parallel in the development of the church community- We have grown from very little, well tended by ministers; our worship, enriched by varying traditions, familiar and new music, contributions from many people as well as the clergy, now blossoms into the production of our own liturgies for special occasions and sacraments; we are seeking to deepen our faith and go on growing and nurturing others in love and trust; we ourselves are seeking transformation and renewal. 

We acknowledge God's hand in the story of this church so far; the vision of our ministers and leaders; many, many people who have given their time talents and money, all with different contributions to make, the encouragement of our parent churches. Most of all we acknowledge the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, God's grace and faithfulness to us. To Him belongs all praise and glory. July 1994