Church Heritage Record 612165

West belcote, 2-bay nave, 2-bay chancel, south-west porch and north-east organ chamber/vestry.

Nave 9m (30ft) by 5.5m (17’6ft).

The chapel was probably founded in the 12th century, though an earlier church building on the site cannot be discounted; Ballidon is mentioned in Domesday, but also in a charter of King Edgar in 963. The chapel is first mentioned as a chapel-of-ease to the mother church at Bradbourne in 1205, which at this date was given to the Priory at Dunstable.  The village shrunk to the present hamlet to the north of the church in the post-medieval period.

The building was altered, partly rebuilt and restored on several occasions, so much so that the church is now an intriguing patchwork.  Its antiquity is revealed by a number of external and internal features, the latter more obvious.  The inner south doorway is 12th century, as is the blocked doorway on the north side.  There would appear to have been a campaign of work in the late 14th century, as some of the nave and chancel windows are of this date, and possibly the chancel roof, though this may be somewhat later.  The font may also be roughly of this date, although this unusual piece is difficult to date, see below.  This is one of several puzzles, which only a detailed survey of the building and site could solve.

There were restorations in 1822 when the nave roof was perhaps replaced, plaster ceilings were inserted and the walls plastered, apparently over what might have been post-Reformation texts.  It was restored again in 1882, the latter doubtless responsible for the sandstone facing of the west end and the belcote, and the porch.  The ceilings and wall plaster were removed back to the stone.  The chancel arch and south doorway were restored, the former completely replaced.  The furnishings and fittings look to be mostly early 20th century.

The chapel and the surrounding area to the north and west comprise an important archaeological site dating from the Early-Late Medieval period, including the deserted medieval village.

This is a compact and attractive church, its muted speckled stonework very much a part of the surrounding landscape. A little vertical emphasis is given by the gabled belcote in the plain west façade, which is of faced and squared masonry pierced by a single lancet and a plain square opening in the gable head. The church has coped gables throughout, the chancel gable has a ball finial but the gable finials from the belcote, porch and chancel have gone.

The south porch looks very fresh, probably an addition of 1882. The external doorway has a plain chamfered round-headed arch. The inner entrance has chamfered jambs and a plain chamfered round-arched head, replaced on the outside but incorporating the original stones on the inside. There are stone benches and a stoup on the east side of the doorway. The plank door has scrolling ironwork. The blocked doorway opposite is simple, round-headed; it is not visible on the inside.

There is one square-headed 2-light window in the nave and chancel south wall with Perpendicular tracery and labels which look as though they might be original, though perhaps reinserted after the Victorian reconstruction. There is also a small low-side window in the west bay of the chancel. The east window is a 2-light with a quatrefoil in the head which looks like a Victorian replacement, as does the small quatrefoil opening in the gable. The vestry has a small arch-headed window in its south wall and a plain stack.

The interior is very simple and quite atmospheric in the hazy natural light allowed in by the pastel coloured window glass, the stone walls exposed, the light stained furniture muted; only the red carpet jars. The extraordinary font just inside the door is undoubtedly the highlight, richly carved with figures. Looking above this there is a square fireplace set half way up into the west wall near the south-west corner, which clearly served a room at this level, perhaps for the priest to stay in when he visited this remote chapel. The nave softwood roof has tie beams and arch braces, it has clearly been replaced, probably in 1882. The chancel however has what appears to be a medieval or early post-medieval roof, partly restored, which might repay closer attention.

The nave is fully pewed with open-backed benches. The chancel arch is round-headed and plain with simple imposts, there is a low stone screen with a simple moulded top projecting at the base. There is a stone Lady altar table set on miniature stone columns against the north side of the chancel arch. There are Commandment Boards each side of the chancel arch and also flanking the chancel east window, tile tablets attached to wooden boards. 

The floor has red carpet over stone flags and decorative tiles in the chancel. The organ pipes dominate the north side of the chancel, a small passageway behind the organ allows access to a tiny cupboard-like space for a vestry, which even has a small fireplace, presumably pre-dating the insertion of the organ. Oak panelling under the stained glass window provides for a dignified focus at the east end.