This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 13 February 2019. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
ALL SAINTS' Church in Loughton, Milton Keynes, marked its 800th anniversary since the first recorded rector was appointed with a celebration service.
From left, the Revd Mike Morris, Iain Stewart MP, Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Martin Petchey, Derek Martin, Bishop of Oxford, Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Rev Sharon Grenham-Thompson, Rev Adedayo Adebiyi, David Thom, Rev Ben Haslam, and Roger Blackburn That rector was Simon de Luhton who was appointed in 1218.
The Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr Martin Petchey, and Iain Stewart MP were joined by guests from the local community, friends and members of All Saints' and the Watling Valley Partnership churches.
The congregation heard the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, speak inspiringly about the life of the church in times past, present and future. Young people from the church wrote and read out the prayers during the service the newly-cast and restored bells rang out to mark this special occasion.
The bellringers were joined by the Mayor who is a keen bellringer himself.
All Saints' as it may have looked 800 years ago.
Stern Thom Fehler Architects