Grade I listed · Bedford

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I listed building in Bedford, first listed on 13 July 1964. It is one of 50 Grade I entries among 1,331 listed buildings in Bedford; 6% of Bedford’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Grade	Grade I — exceptional interest
List entry number	1249239
Date first listed	13 July 1964
Local planning authority	Bedford
Location	52.09487, -0.53623 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1249239

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Bedford will require for your works on Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest — only about 2.5% of listed buildings in England. Any application for listed building consent is notified to Historic England, and alterations are scrutinised closely.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin

Name	Grade	Distance
48, Church Road	II	70 m
21 and 23, Church Row	II	72 m
Ivy Cottage	II	80 m
Barn to Number 50	II	87 m
The Old Bakehouse, 23 and 25 Church Road	II	90 m
Former Stables to Wootton House	II	109 m
Wootton War Memorial	II	134 m
Wootton House	II*	135 m
The Old Post Office	II	181 m
7, Church Road	II	193 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin listed?

Yes. Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1249239, first listed on 13 July 1964. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Bedford, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.