Castlethorpe Church Open Days
Ss Simon & Jude Church, 13 - 15 North Street, Castlethorpe, Buckinghamshire, MK19 7EW
Come and explore our Grade 1 listed parish church, which is sited on what was the motte of a Norman castle. Some stonework dates from about 1250 although much of it was rebuilt a hundred years later. There are two medieval mass dials on the wall facing the road.
Inside, church members will be on hand to point out interesting features including the 14th century font, the Cannon memorial window (a train and ploughing horses represent Castlethorpe’s later history) and a recently restored large monument to the Tyrrill family near the altar. This was erected by Bridget Tyrrill in the 1670s to commemorate her late husband Sir Thomas Tyrrill, who was Lord of the Manor in Castlethorpe and one of the judges appointed to resolve property disputes resulting from the Great Fire of London in 1666.
We have just completed an extensive restoration project which involved putting in a kitchen, a disability-friendly toilet and new electrics and heating. We are therefore delighted we can offer visitors, including those on Ride & Stride, a cup of tea!
The church is surrounded by a large well-tended graveyard including a rewilding area. Graves date from the 17th century and include one for the oldest inhabitant of the village, Sarah Harris who died in 1887 aged 107. Look out too for a Commonwealth War Grave. Behind the church is Castle Field, a Scheduled Ancient Monument where you can walk around part of the former castle’s impressive earthwork complex.
Ss Simon & Jude Church, 13 - 15 North Street, Castlethorpe, Buckinghamshire, MK19 7EW
Parking at the church is limited to disabled parking. Other visitors can park around the village, especially in South Street.