Fenny Stratford / Fenni Stratford / Stratford

Sheahan (1862) reports the start of the construction of a new church here in 1724, on the foundations of "The old Chapel of Ease to Bletchley which consisted of two or three aisles and an embattled tower, and was dedicated in honour of St. Margaret, having been demolished during the civil wars, the town was long without a place of worship in connexion with the established church"; the new church was consecrated on 27 May 1730 and dedicated to St. Martin [NB: there is no mention of a font in Sheahan (ibid.)]. The St. Martin Parish site [www.stmartinmk.co.uk/history.htm] notes the modern font in the baptistery: "At the back of the Church, on the left side of the door , is the baptistry . The cover on the font was made locally. It is built of oak, in octagonal shape, containing sixteen panels arranged in two stories. Each panel is decorated with the same ecclesiastical pattern."