11 May 2022

A rich architectural heritage
to explore in Newport Pagnell

No 38 High Street, a timber-framed building dating from the early 1600s, is one of the oldest buildings in Newport Pagnell (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Patrick Comerford

During my all but too brief to Newport Pagnell last week, I was interested in a number of churches and buildings in the town, including the Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the iron bridge at Tickford, Tickford Abbey and the site of the former Tickford Priory, and the United Reformed Church in the town, with a continuous link to one of the oldest ‘dissenter’ or ‘non-conformist’ congregations in England.

But Newport Pagnell has a rich heritage of many buildings that challenge the image of Milton Keynes as a brash and modern town.

The most picturesque of these must be No 38 High Street, on a prominent site in the High Town. This building dates from the early 1600s and is one of the oldest buildings in Newport Pagnell.

This three-storey buildings with an attic is built of timber frame and plaster. It has two box dormers, sash windows with moulded wooden frames and an interesting 19th double fronted shop front with a central entrance, Other features include the tiled roof, the dentilled cornices and the tall brick chimney stack.

It was a bank holiday Monday, so I did not get inside the shop front, but I understand the interior details include a fine early l7th staircase from the first floor up. But the old timber framing that can be seen today was only exposed in recent years after it had been covered for many years by heavy rendering.

For many years, the Vintage Emporium was an antique dealer’s premises, and in the past the shop belonging to Austin family and then for many years to the Clare family.

The Methodist Church in Newport Pagnell dates from 1815 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Further along High Street, the home of the Town Council almost hides away the Methodist Church, which is tucked away in its own courtyard and memorial gardens.

The Methodist Church in Newport Pagnell was built in 1815 and it is typical of chapel architecture of the period – strong and severe, but with a touch of elegance about the frontage.

John Wesley is said to have passed through Newtown Pagnell on his horse, probably on his way to Stony Stratford where he preached during a number.

The Dolphin Inn dates from the 16th century (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Nearby, the 16th century Dolphin Inn is one the town’s ancient inns.

Some of the other early pubs in Newport Pagnell that I probably need to get to know include the Coachmakers’ Arms at No 117 High Street. This is an early l7th century half-timber, brick and stone inn with tiled roofs.

The former Vicarage at No 32 St John Street (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

On the way to Tickford Bridge, I also noticed No 32 St John Street, an ancient stone house that was the Vicarage in Newport Pagnell until 1875.

At the rear of this house there is medieval stone wall that was once part of a Tudor building.

Queen Anne’s Hospital dates from 1615 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Next door, the former almshouses were known as Queen Anne’s Hospital. This is the fourth such premises on the site, with the original building dating from the 13th century.

A plaque above one of the windows is dated 1615 and recalls that the hospital was dedicated to the people of the town by Queen Anne, wife of James I.

The Pin-Petch Restaurant at No 13 High Street recalls Odell’s Victorian ironmongers’ shop (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Near the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in the High Street, the Pin-Petch Restaurant at No 13 High Street is an early Victorian building, dating from ca 1850, with a bow-style or rounded corner entrance framed by Corinthian-style pilasters.

For over 150 years, this was an ironmongers’ shop and workshops run by the Odell family until it closed in 1991. Ever since it has been a restaurant but it is an early Grade 2 listed Victorian building and it remains a reminder of olden days before large commercial stores.

An ancient well was found in the old shop and it retains several other unusual features. The old front step has worn after a century and a half of use and the entrance doors are curved. These were once covered with other solid mourning doors that were used during funerals in the parish church.

The Coachmakers’ Arms is an early l7th century half-timber inn (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Praying with the Psalms in Easter:
11 May 2022 (Psalm 77)

‘I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit’ (Psalm 77: 6) … darkness in the City of London last Saturday night (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Patrick Comerford

I arrived back in Askeaton, Co Limerick yesterday. Before this day begins (11 May 2022), I am continuing my morning reflections in this season of Easter continues, including my morning reflections drawing on the Psalms.

In my blog, I am reflecting each morning in this Prayer Diary in these ways:

1, Short reflections on a psalm or psalms;

2, reading the psalm or psalms;

3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.

Psalm 77:

Psalm 77 is found in Book 3 in the Book of Psalms, which includes Psalms 73 to 89. In the slightly different numbering scheme in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, this is psalm is numbered as Psalm 76.

This is the sixth of the ‘Psalms of Asaph.’ These are the 12 psalms numbered 50 and 73 to 83 in the Masoretic text and 49 and 72-82 in the Septuagint. Each psalm has a separate meaning, and these psalms cannot be summarised easily as a whole.

But throughout these 12 psalms is the shared theme of the judgment of God and how the people must follow God’s law.

The superscription of this psalm reads: ‘To the leader: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm.’ The attribution of a psalm to Asaph could mean that it was part of a collection from the Asaphites, identified as Temple singers, or that the psalm was performed in a style associated with Asaph, who was said to be the author or transcriber of these psalms.

Asaph who is identified with these psalms was a Levite, the son of Berechiah and descendant of Gershon, and he was the ancestor of the Asaphites, one the guilds of musicians in the first Temple in Jerusalem.

Asaph served both David and Solomon, and performed at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (see II Chronicles 5: 12). His complaint against corruption among the rich and influential, recorded in Psalm 73, for example, might have been directed against some of court officials. The words used to describe the wicked come from words used by officials of the cult or sacrificial system.

Several of the Psalms of Asaph are categorised as communal laments because they are concerned for the well-being of the whole community. Many of these psalms forecast destruction or devastation in the future, but are balanced with God’s mercy and saving power for the people.

Psalm 77 finds parallels in other biblical poetry, such as Psalm 118: 18 and the hymn in the final chapter of Habakkuk. All three share a common theme of becoming aware of ultimate divine deliverance from seemingly intractable terrors.

This is a psalm of lament from a community of people crying out to God and asking God to not be silent in their time of need. The question is posed: has God’s steadfast love ceased for ever But this psalm comes full circle with the end proclaiming the wonder of God as creator and reflecting on his care of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 77 begins with a cry of distress. The psalmist has been experiencing profound difficulties, and his cries to God appear to have been ignored. Only his memories of the past seem to bring anything even resembling joy.

However, the psalmist then remembers God’s integrity and realises that the failure of his hopes is the result of misplaced expectations of God's actions, rather than God's failure to act.

Recalling God’s actions in the past and God’s rule even over the natural world, he concludes with praise of ‘the God who works wonders’ or ‘the God who performs miracles’ (verse 14).

‘When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid’ (Psalm 77: 16) … waves on the shore at Morriscastle, Co Wexford (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2022)

Psalm 77 (NRSVA):

To the leader: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm.

1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, that he may hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan;
I meditate, and my spirit faints.
Selah

4 You keep my eyelids from closing;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
and remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night;
I meditate and search my spirit:
7 ‘Will the Lord spurn for ever,
and never again be favourable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased for ever?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?’
Selah
10 And I say, ‘It is my grief
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.’

11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work,
and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah

16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
the very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies thundered;
your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path, through the mighty waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Today’s Prayer:

The theme in this week’s prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is ‘Celebration in Casablanca.’ It was introduced on Sunday morning by the Right Revd David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in Europe.

The USPG Prayer Diary this morning (11 May 2022) invites us to pray:

Let us pray for inter-provincial relations across the Anglican Communion.

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org