Built in 1855, this small but interesting church was paid for by the rector of the time, Henry Crawley. The parish of Stowe IX Churches is split into two halves, Church Stowe and Upper Stowe which meant that up until 1856, worshippers from Upper Stowe had to make the 20 minute walk across the fields to the parish church of St Michael at Church Stowe.
Designed by the architect Philip Hardwick, who was an honorary member of the Northamptonshire architect society, the same society accorded their approval of the plans at their meeting on October 17th 1855, noting that it was “ ……an exceedingly simple chapel in the style of the 13th century, of very good proportion and correct arrangement.”
The nave and chancel both have steeply pitched roofs, a design which was believed at the time to be far more essential to convey the majesty of God than a tower or spire. However, there is a bell turret, thought to be “…well suited to a small church.”
The chancel is decorated with paintings of flowers, leaves and fleur-de-Lys, as well as numerous small shields representing the apostles, other saints, instruments of the passion and other symbols of piety, such as would have been approved of by the Cambridge Camden society. There are also inscriptions which run around the whole church-that in the chancel can be seen but unfortunately the nave has been painted. However the inscriptions there are believed to have said “O come let us sing unto the Lord “on the north wall and “ I was glad when they said to me we will go into the house of the Lord” on the south side.
In the 1970s the interior arrangement of the church was altered to the design still seen today. The altar and chancel rails were moved forward from their original positions and the organ, which was opposite the pulpit (and hand pumped) was moved to its present place and given an electric pump. Where the organ now stands the stove once stood and the coal box can still be seen at the rear of the church. The carpet was also laid covering the Victorian tiles.
The church is still used regularly with two services each month.
A wildflower meadow was started in 2017 and has become well established.
