Next Meeting
22nd November 2025
Arrive Northampton Station: 08:56 from London Euston arrives 09:55, or 09:16 from Rugby arrives 09:39.
20 minute walk from station to:
10:30 – 11:30 - Holy Sepulchre : 8 bells, 14-3-7 in F#, Ground floor ring: SP753609: NN1 3EB
Dating from c.1100 this is one of the four medieval Knights Hospitallers “Round Churches” in England, the others being Temple Church, London; Holy Sepulchre, Cambridge; and St John the Baptist, Little Maplestead in Essex where my wife Janet was Vicar. All were modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem as recalled by the returning Crusaders.
10 minute walk to:
12:00 – 13:00 - All Saints : 10 bells, 17-0-4 in E, spiral staircase to ringing chamber Toilet: SP754604: NN1 1DF
This Church was largely rebuilt in 1680 following the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 which
destroyed much of the old town. Just the medieval tower survived. The Church marks the centre
of the town today, just south of the Market Square.
10 minute walk to
13:15 – 14:15 - St Peter's : 8 bells, 12-2-0 in F. Ground floor ring: SP749603: NN1 1SH
This Church dating from c.1130 is a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust – said to be the most outstanding Norman Church in Northamptonshire. It was restored by George Gilbert Scott in the 1850s, and the tower rebuilt with fine use of reddish ironstone and yellowish limestone. This Church is next to the site of the old Castle. The C17th “Old Black Lion” pub next to St Peters should have re-opened last Easter, but sadly still hasn’t. Finds date the site to around 1150. The CCT have moved offices there.
Lunch break – lots of varied facilities across the town!
20 minute walk through town centre to:
15:00 – 16:00 - St Giles : 10 bells, 22-3-0 in D. Spiral staircase to ringing chamber. Toilet: SP759605: NN1 5AA
This Church also dates from 12th Century, but much remodelled by a “thorough Victorian restoration” in the 1850s – the Curate then was brother of George Gilbert Scott working nearby at St Peter’s.
20 minute walk back to Northampton Station:
Trains at 16:40 to Rugby, arrives 17:02, or 16:48 to London Euston, arrives 17:49.
28th March 2026 – venue tbc.
27th June 2026 – AGM – venue tbc.
19th September 2026 – venue tbc.
21st November 2026 – venue tbc.