The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes King Street Congregational Church:

King Street Congregational Church, is a Gothic building of beautiful proportions, and was opened in 1866. It stands on a commanding site and has a lofty spire, 130 ft high. Seating accommodation for 1150 persons.

Staff

• Pastor, Rev E.B. Mahon B.A.
• Secretary, Mr H. Stanbridge, London Road.
• Treasurer, Mr J. Johnstone haye.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Bury Park Congregational Church:

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes the Bethel Baptist Church:

Baptist Church , Chapel Street, is the home of the Strict Baptists. Chapel opened in 1907, with seating accommodation for 250 people.

Staff

• There is no settled pastor. Mr. Joseph Fookes is the Deacon.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes the Chapel Street Wesleyan Chapel:

Chapel Street Circuit – Chapel Street Chapel (Locally known as the Big Wesleyan) was opened in 1852, and is one of the largest places of worship in Methodism.

Staff

• Ministers: Revs Frank Hall, Thomas May M.A., A.S. Bishop.
• Circuit stewards, Messers H. Arnold and S. Farmer.

Chapels

The chapels in Luton connected with the circuit are:

• Bailey Hill
• Dallow Road
• Dunstable Road

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Christ Church:

Christ Church was erected in 1858, and since then it has been considerably altered greatly adding to the comfort of the congregation. It has accommodation for 850 worshippers.

Staff

• Vicar and rural dean. Rev Charles Morgan Smith B.A. B.D.,
• Assistant clergy. Rev. Horace J. Stares. and Rev. E.C. Whitworth.
• Churchwardens, Messers W.R. Phillips and John Gates
• Organist, Mr. Stanley Bennett, A.R.C.O.
• Nurse. Miss. Griffiths. 48 Grove Road

Property

• Parish Room; Inkerman Street.
• Day Schools, Buxton Road.

Other Sites

• St. Andrews, Crawley Road.
  • Wardens, Messers C. Robinson and Percy Bass.
• All Saints Beech Hill.
  • Wardens, Messrs R.H. Marks and C. Barker.
• St Peters Church Dallow Road.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes the Ebenezer Baptist Church:

Ebenezer Baptist Church (Hastings Street) is the home of the Particular Baptists. Built in 1853.

Staff

• Pastor, Mr. J. Kemp.

Property

• Baptist Mission – Melson Street Hall
  • Pastor is Mr. W. Powell, 25 Rothesay Road.
• Reginald Street Baptist Mission
  • Pastor, Rev G.F. Hobbs.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes the High Town Chapel:

First Circuit – High Town Chapel is the head. The old chapel now used as a lecture hall and Sunday School was built in 1852. The new church provides accommodation for 800 people, and was opened in 1898.

Staff

• Ministers: Rev J. Ritson. W.F. Clulow and S. Dobson (supernumerary).

Property

• Cardigan Street Chapel is in this circuit and has accommodation for 250 worshippers.
  • Circuit Steward: Mr S. Kilby.

The Union (Baptists and Independents) chapel was built in 1846 and a Sunday School building was added at the rear in 1889, but Baptists at Caddington go back much further. Episcopal visitations made by the Bishop of Lincoln to Bedfordshire in the early 18th century always asked how many nonconformists there were in a parish. Returns in that time note the following numbers: 1706 “many Anabaptists”; 1709 fourteen or fifteen families of Anabaptists; 1712 nine families of Anabaptists; 1717 “Numbers, I know not”; 1720 “I am strange to their Teachers and to the numbers of their Congregation”. The first mention of a meeting house is in 1712.

In the papers of the Archdeaconry of Bedford [ABN1/1, ABN1/2 and ABN2] are two registrations of meeting places for Baptists. The first is by Ebenezer Daniel, William Rudd, Thomas Mead, William Bolton and James Smith in 1813 and is for the house of George Evans, the second by Ebenezer Daniel, David Barber, Francis Harrison and Samuel Davison in 1824 for the house of James Bingham. Ebenezer Daniel was the Baptist minister at Luton from 1812 to 1830. In 1837 Castle Street chapel in Luton opened for a congregation of 47 Baptists and Caddington, along with other outlying villages was administered from here.

On Sunday 30th March 1851 a census of all churches, chapels and preaching-houses of every denomination was undertaken in England and Wales. The local results were published by Bedfordshire Historical Records Society in 1975 as Volume 54, edited by D. W. Bushby. The return for the Luton Union Branch Mixed Communion in Caddington was made by George Strange, the superintendent of Wellington Street, Luton. The chapel had 120 seats and the general morning congregation was 90.

In his pamphlet H. C. Bunyan [pamphlet classification 170] notes that at some time before 1874 the chapel at Caddington was almost completely rebuilt. He notes that Davis' History of Luton recorded the original chapel as having cost £150, whereas the rebuilding cost was £230. In 1887 land at the back of the chapel was donated by a Mr. Simmons and two years later a Sunday School built on it was opened. On 12th November 1897 the union chapel was registered by William Mayles of Ivy House, Union Street, Luton, one of the trustees. It was registered for marriages nine days later.

In his pamphlet H. C. Bunyan notes that he became assistant superintendent of the chapel in 1928 and superintendent in 1932, at this time Sunday School attendances were 60 to 70 in the morning and 30 to 40 in the afternoon. In 1943 renovation work was undertaken including under pinning of the chapel and erecting a pillar in the chapel to help bear the weight of the upper school room.

In 1986 Caddington became independent of the mother church in Luton and at the same time the church was given a modern extension. At the time of writing [2012] the church remains open for public worship.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Mount Tabor Chapel:

Third Circuit – Mount Tabor, at the corner of Hibbert Street and Castle Street, is the head, and has seating accommodation for 700 worshippers.

Staff

• Minister Rev. W. Barnsley.

Property

• Dunstable Road Mission is in this circuit.
  • Circuit Steward, Mr T. Norton.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Our Lady Help of Christians Church:

“Our Lady Help of Christians” is the only Roman Catholic Church in Luton. It is situated in Castle Street, will seat about 350, and is built in early English style.

Staff

• The Rector is the Rev. Harry O’Connor, who resides in the presbytery adjoining the church.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Park Street Baptist Church:

Park Street Baptist Chapel is the oldest Nonconformist chapel in Luton. It is closely associated with John Bunyan. There is seating accommodation for 1000.

Staff

• Pastorate (vacant).
• Secretary: Mr B. Tomlin. “Purleighs” Downs Road.

Property

• A branch church has been opened in Wenlock Street.

• Minister: Rev. A. Fawcett

• Church Street Chapel was built in 1880 and will seat 400 persons.
  • Circuit Steward, Mr J. Pickering.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes The Society of Friends meeting hall:

Society of Friends (Quakers) – First became connected with Luton in 1655, and claims to be the oldest of the Free Churches in South Beds. The meeting house stands in Castle Street – partly hidden by trees and surrounded by grassy grave mounds. The Friends started the Friends Adult School in 1862, and a new and commodious assembly hall was opened in 1907.

St Mary's, Luton, is an Anglican Church in the centre of the town of Luton, England. The church has a rich and long history, being over 850 years old and has been rebuilt and refurbished constantly over the centuries. The Church is one of the largest in Bedfordshire and considered a fine example of medieval architecture. The Church is part of the St Albans Diocese.

The architecture of St Mary's is varied as the church has been renovated and rebuilt many times, but the basic layout is that of a cruciform, with north/south aisles and many chapels and extensions in various directions heading off the main church. The total length of the church is 53 m (174 ft), the total width is 17 m (57 ft), and the height is 27 m (90 ft). The outside of the church is clad in a distinctive flint and stone chequer, which makes the church stand out in the town.

The graveyard in the direct vicinity of the church is no longer used, burials now take place at, the Luton Church Cemetery, on Crawley Green Road.

In 1914 the staff of the church were:

• The Vicar, The Rev. Arthur R. Chapman M.A.
• The Curates, Rev. G.F. Sloan B.A., and Rev. E.G. Jaquet
• The Churchwardens, Mr Edmund Tydeman and Mr S. Green;
• The Organist, Mr F. Gostelow, F.R.C.O.,etc;
• The Verger, Mr W. Bird.

Sunday Services in 1914 ran 8 am, 11 am, 3pm and 6:30 pm.

In connection with the church was:

•  A mission Hall of iron at the corner of Gloucester and Manor Roads.
• St’ Mary’s Hall, Church Street, where week-night meetings are held.
• Day Schools in Queen Square and Church Street.
• A District Visiting Society
• A trained nurse who worked amongst the poor
• A Male Communicants Guild
• A branch of the Girl’s Friendly Society
• A Needlework Guild
• A Lady-worker’s Association
• A Working Party for the Sick Poor in the Parish
• Working Parties in support of the Missionary cause.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes St Matthews Church:

St. Matthews Church, erected in 1875, situated in High Town occupies a commanding site. Seating accommodation 800.

Staff

• Vicar Rev. Harry Coate, appointed in 1894
• Curate, Rev W.H. Hopkins
• Wardens Messers T. Bodell, 59 Clarendon Road, and H.E Cain, 61 Clarendon Road
• Organist Mr A. Burgess
• Verger G. Newbury
• Parish Nurse nurse Wintle, 1196 North Street.

Property

• The Church Army Hall is in Brunswick Street
  • Officers in Charge Captain and Mrs Higson.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes St Paul's Church:

St Paul’s Church, erected in 1890; seating accommodation 700. Possesses a carved reredos.

Staff

• Vicar Rev T. Bulman
• Churchwardens Messers W.W. Merchant and A. Turner.
• Nurse, Nurse Norman, 74 Langley Road.
• C.E. Men’s Society.- Hon. Sec. Mr Thomas R. Worthington 33 Conway Road.

Property

• St Paul’s Army Church founded in 1901, carried on in New Town Street.
  • Officer in charge Captain Dewey.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes St Saviours Church:

St Saviours Church (Russell Street) – Foundation stone laid in 1877, but only the nave was built. In 1897 the north aisle was completed, seating accommodation 650.

Staff

• Vicar, Rev J.C. Trevelyan
• Curates Rev T.L Mackesy and Rev H.D. Baker
• Churchwardens, Messers W.E. McGeorge and E.R. Richardson.

Property

• A small mission is Spring Place, was opened in 1906.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Union Chapel:

Union Chapel, in castle street, was formed in 1837. It will seat 930.

Staff

• Pastorate (vacant)
• Church Secretary: Mr. F. Thurston.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes the Waller Street Wesleyan Chapel:

Waller Street Chapel is a solid building. Foundation stone laid in 1863. Seating accommodation 1100.

Staff

• Ministers Revs George Charter, E.E. Ormiston, Arthur F. Wolton and H. Scholefield (supernumerary).
• Circuit Stewards: Messers G. Dimmock and G. Newbold.

Property

• The old Wesley Chapel in Church Street.
• North Street Mission.
• Round Green Mission.
• Central Mission.

The Luton Yearbook 1914 describes Wellington Street Chapel:

Wellington Street Chapel – Members of the Old Baptist and Union Chapels formed this church, which was started in 1846. Still known as the New Baptist. Seating accommodation for 900.

Staff

• Minister, Rev F.C. Hughes.
• Church Secretary, Mr H.C. Rudd, Milton House, Dunstable Road.