Scope and Content
Front endpaper - newspaper cutting of a watercolour of Old Pig Market at the Fountain Inn, Bedford showing St Mary's in the background.
Page 1 - newspaper cutting re. appointment of D B Harris as archdeacon of Bedford, 1946, rector of St Mary's 30th Nov 1945. Pictures from a magazine of Harris with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Greenford, his previous parish. Newspaper cutting of the Ven Michael Peck, on his appointment as Dean of Lincoln. Photograph of D B Harris and Michael Peck with team of curates at the parish of Holy Cross, Greenford, c. 1943. Loose - Photographs of D B Harris one by Bassano Ltd London, the other by Elliot & Fry.
Page 2 photographs of: St Mary's at night viewed from Cauldwell Street; interior from the west door; interior from the gallery; interior after the chandelier was added; interior from a watercolour by Mary E Wickings-Smith (now in museum Bedford).
Page 3. View of the interior of the chancel (magazine cutting); photographs of the chancel; the sacristy and chancel immediately after restoration, 1949?; drawings of the chancel and St Peter's chapel by M E Wickings-Smith.
Page 4. Visitor's guide to the church of St Mary, 1950. Photograph of processional cross.
Page 5. Photograph of virgin and child plaque and magazine cutting showing it in situ; photograph of Christmas crib, 1959.
Page 6. Photographs of: Donald B Harris as archdeacon, with Geoffrey Law (1949?), on gift day with Basil Heatherington 1953?, head and shoulders, off duty with pipe 1955, as priest 1955.
Page 7. Newspaper cuttings: Ven D B Harris welcoming the bishop; being pulled ashore by Bedford Sea Rangers; discussing South African problems having spent 3 months in South Africa (1949).
Page 8. Mission to Bedford 15-22 Oct 1950 letter from the Bishop of St Albans. Newspaper cuttings involving D B Harris re. 'Women should stay at home'; critic of the 5 day week; Christianity the One Hope.
Page 9. Newspaper cuttings 'Corn Exchange Packed for Mission to Bedford Anniversary Meeting' 1951, and Round the Town reflection on the 'outspoken reflections on this modern age by the Archdeacon of Bedford'.
Page 10. Photograph of Winnie Rogers, Arthur Suffrin, D B Harris and Kenneth Morley at the summer fair. Newspaper cuttings of summer fair at St Mary's 1947? and St Mary's Christmas Fair 1946?
Page 11. Photographs and newspaper cuttings re. summer fair featuring Prudence the Old English sheepdog.
Page 12. Newspaper cuttings re. Imminent visit from overseas bishops; large crowd at the service in Bedford Park; fancy dress at the Rectory Garden Party June 1950.
Page 13-14 Newspaper cuttings of Archdeacon giving piano recital June 1949, which photographs of same.
Page 15 Programmes and newspaper cutting re. Concerts in aid of the Bishop's Appeal, 1949.
Page 16 Programmes for recitals at the church 1951.
Page 17. Newspaper cuttings re. gift day and farewell to Father G A Law, appointment of Basil Hetherington as curate, programme for Festival theatre, 1951.
Page 18.-19 Newspaper cutting of service in St Paul's church, Bedford on the death of King George VI.
Page 20. Menu for dinner 1952, newspaper cutting re. coronation of Elizabeth II;
Page 21. Photographs of The Women's Fellowship and the choir boys - all named, cricket match 1953?. Newspaper cutting re. fete being forced indoors due to bad weather.
Page 22. Newspaper cuttings and photographs of a Sunday service at St Mary's on 23 May 1954; new deaconess installed 1965.
Page 23. Newspaper cuttings farewell to Rev B Hetherington; New priest, Dennis Cooper; D Cooper and banner, 1954.
Page 24. Photographs of Olde Tyme Dance Dinner 1953?
Page 25. Newspaper cuttings of record £180 raised at fete and photographs of procession in church and across the road, 1955.
Page 26. Newspaper cuttings farewell to D B Harris, with signed souvenir, 1955.
Page 27 Newspaper cuttings re. new rector, T R Colman, 1956; the women's fellowship group, 1957, and of Rev Tom Colman with Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of prayers being said for Winston Churchill in 1965.
Page 28. Newspaper cutting re. tower falling down and discoveries made during removal of plaster, 1958?
Page 29. Newspaper cuttings re. other finds during restoration; St Mary's Players presenting a play to aid the restoration, 10 Feb 1959.
Page 30. Newspaper cuttings and photographs of an Edwardian Evening for the Women's fellowship, 1957.
Page 31. Newspaper cutting of picture of the St Mary's Singers; copy of the front page of parish magazine April 1959.
Page 32. Newspaper cutting farewell to Rev T R Colman, 1959.
Page 33. Photograph of the clergy of St Mary's [?] Aug 1959. Newspaper cuttings re. death of Mrs Stephen Adams, wife of the rector of St Mary's, and wedding of Miss Susan King daughter of the Rev J H King of St Paul's Bedford and Rev Stephen Adams, rector of St Mary's, 1960.
Page 34-35 Advertisement and newspaper report for The Marianettes, 1960.
Page 36 What are you? publication
Page 37. Invitation and menu for parish supper, 21 Oct 1960.
Page 38. Christian stewardship mission.
Page 39. programme for recital of music in aid of the restoration fund, 1961.
Page 40. Newspaper cutting - interview with Rev Stephen Adams, 1961.
Page 41. Newspaper cutting re. Marianettes "South Pacific" 1962.
Page 42-43 Accounts for the year 1961.
Page 44. Details for Holy week 1962.
Page 45. Newspaper cuttings re. St Mary's club reopening, 1962.
Page 46. Newspaper cuttings re. wedding of Patricia Daly. Page 46-49 Newspaper cuttings re. Marianettes production, 1962.
Page 50. Notices re. stewardship at St Mary's.
Page 51. Newspaper cuttings re. helpline for people in despair, Nov 1963; Ray Armstrong lead in the Marianette's production mobbed by audience, 1964.
Page 52. Balance sheet 1966; newspaper cuttings re. Stephen Adams leaving and fear that St Mary's may be redundant, 1967.
Page 53 Parish newsletter, Feb 1967.
Page 54-55, newsletters Oct 1967, Feb 1968; newspaper cuttings re. parish supper, 1968.
Page 56-57 newspaper cuttings re. decision to close church, 1969; Marianettes German tour, 1970?
Page 58-59 newspaper cutting on Bedford's threatened heritage 31 Jan 1969 Beds Times; parish newsletter Feb 1969.
Page 60. Newspaper cuttings re. Rev Peter Hill to become vicar of St Mary's Goldington and remain rector of St Mary's Bedford, 1969.
Page 61. newsletter March 1969.
Page 62-63. Information for the congregation; newspaper cuttings re. suggestion that stone from St Mary's could be used in North Brickhill.
Page 64. Copies of The Fisherman, parish magazine of St Andrew' and St Mary's, Bedford, May and June 1970.
Page 65. Information for the Patronal Festival, 2 July 1970.
Page 66. Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1970 sermon preached by the Reverend Donald Harris.
Page 67. Newspaper cutting re. church's problems and responsibilities on ancient buildings. Invitation to final service in St Mary's 30 Sept 1975.
Page 68-70 Drawings of the interior of St Mary's church by Mary E Wickings-Smith.
Page 71. Newspaper cuttings re. the death of Rev Michael David Saville Peck.
Page 72. Information on St Mary's Square, Bedford, 1972.
Endpaper Newspaper cutting re. St John's Rectory. Loose Newspaper cutting of the Bedfordshire Archaeology Centre in St Mary's Church, 1991.