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 The Parish Church of Bumham has played an important part in
the history of this locality for over a thousand years.
Burnham was mentioned in the Doomsday Book (1086) and forms
part of the Chiltern Hundreds, which comprise Burnham, Desborough and Stoke.
The first church on this site was
probably built by the Romans in about 500 AD. Some early
references to Burnham are to be found in the registers of
the Bishops of Lincoln as Burnham was in this Diocese until
the formation of the Diocese of Oxford in 1835. It is likely
that the Saxons replaced the Roman church in about 700. The
Saxon Archbishop Aelfric refers in his will to lands in
Burnham.
It is probable that the present building was started in
the reign of Stephen (1134-54). King John presented the
earliest known incumbent to the Rectory of Burnham in 1202.
Various additions and improvements have been made to the
building over the centuries. A major restoration was carried
out in 1863-4 under the supervision of the vicar, the Revd.
Thomas Carter, and churchwarden, Mr Samuel Christie-Miller.
The very considerable sum, at that time, of £2,000 was
raised by public subscription. The work undertaken included
removal of the ceiling and a gallery, restoration of
windows, provision of a heating system, and an oak floor.
The south porch was rebuilt and Minton tiles laid in the
chancel. The chancel walls were also strengthened by the
addition of five buttresses.
In 1891 a second restoration took place. The £3,018
raised, again by public subscription, was mostly spent on
the tower. A masonry storey, replacing the former wooden
structure which had housed the bells, and a timber spire
covered in oak shingles were added, together with a new
turret staircase. The stonework of the west window was also
entirely renewed and a vestry built.
In 1897 two treble bells were added to commemorate Queen
Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. In 1949 the bells, some dating
from the 15th century, were recast and re-hung in a new
steel frame. Other major restoration work was carried out in
the 1960s, when new flooring was laid and an electronic
organ installed.
In 1986 the vestry was demolished and the present
Cornerstone built. Church members met the cost of £120,000
from legacies, mainly from the Almond and Rhodes families,
through public donations and fund raising activities.
And finally, bringing us right up to date, the restoration of the Reredos began in December 2003
and was completed in time for Easter 2004. The Reredos is a
marble and alabaster carving depicting the healing scenes
from the life of Jesus. Funds for this restoration were kindly
donated by the English Heritage Trust and the National
Lottery. If you would like to know more about about the
history of St Peter's or indeed Burnham Village, please
contact the
Burnham Historians. |
