Elstow Abbey

Elstow's mighty 13th century bell tower, one of only a handful of freestanding church towers in the country, looks out across the spacious village green and stands side by side with the remaining part of a Norman abbey, which is now the parish church.

Elstow, Bedfordshire

Opening times

Thursday mornings and Sundays. Other times by arrangement: Telephone 01234-218762.

Address

Church End
Elstow
Bedfordshire
MK42 9XT

The three bays towards the east end are a surviving fragment of the original cruciform abbey church, which was founded by William the Conqueror's widowed niece, Judith, in 1078.

The east wall, with its Perpendicular windows, was added after the Dissolution. A handsomely vaulted 13th century room from the original abbey is now used as a vestry.

Two 19th century windows in the church commemorate John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, who was baptised here in 1628 and later joined the church's bellringing team. The church is on the route of the John Bunyan trail, a long distance path linking places connected with him.

Key features