However, what appears to be known is that following her death in AD 700 her father, King Redwald (in some accounts Penda), and mother, Wilburga, took her to Aylesbury to be interred.

Thus, in the reign of Edward III, Aylesbury Church was part of the Deanery of Lincoln, and a separate stall in that cathedral was set aside for the dean.

[4] The church as it stands today is supposed to have been erected at some date between 1200 and 1250 with various additions and alterations during the reign of either King John or Henry III of England.

During this period it is thought the Lady Chapel and sacristy (now called the vestry) was constructed on the east side of the north and south transept respectively.

An oaken wardrobe in which is an ingeniously incorporated a swinging horse on which the priest's vestments were hung is still found in the church to this day and dates from the 15th century.

This is proof that in one instance at least (that of the south-west pier) the second casing failed at an early date, as is shown by the large clamps which have been added to it.

Exposed as the Aylesbury district was to the full force of the mischievous effects of the civil commotions of that period, it would indeed have been extraordinary if this church above all others had escaped the ravages and excesses of those unfortunate times, when the noblest ecclesiastical structures of our country were plundered, defamed, and defaced.

Finally he adds that he and his men "showed their zeal" and "got into the church, defaced the ancient and sacred glazed pictures, and burned the holy rails".

The divisions which were exceedingly high, were adorned according to the various owners; some were lined with blue cloth and bedizened with an abundance of large brass-headed nails; others would be scarlet; green baize was the prevailing 'comfort', whilst some of less pretensions were satisfied with paint.

The Commissioners and Visitors appointed to purify the church in the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell listed the Rev John Barton of Aylesbury a 'scandalous minister' and it was voted that he would be expelled.

Old writers have explained its cultivation as necessary for the purpose of keeping up a stock of bows for archers, and others that it was planted to screen the church from the effects of storms and tempests.

It was resolved that his report be printed and published and copies sent to all the owners of estates in the parish with a request that they would pay after the rate of sixpence in the pound on their rentals for the space of ten years.

At this time the south transept resembled a marine store; this considerable part of the building was then used as the receptacle of all the paraphernalia of the parish fire brigade.

On 24 September 1848, during the Sunday morning service, the chimes being silenced as usual, the fastenings by which they were held gave way, and caused a great clatter in the tower.

There was a panic, and a great rush made by many of the congregation to escape from the supposed falling ruins; some scrambled over the tops of the pews, some tumbled over each other in attempting to make their way out, and for a time there was utter confusion.

He believed this view of the case was not a peculiar one, as it was announced by the members of the scheme at the vestry and he had no doubt that the decorations needed in the church would be done by subscription raised in another way.

In May 1852, a vestry was convened by the churchwardens for considering the best mode of raising the necessary for reseating the church and the principle that it should be effected by voluntary contributions was also approved.

In the autumn of 1853, the work was revived in earnest, the only delay being caused by disputes raised by some few of the parishioners with regard to their supposed rights to seats, some demanding to occupy the same sites on which their old pews formerly stood.

At a private meeting of the subscribers of the voluntary Church Service Fund, held at the vestry-place in March of that year, a report of Mr. Scott, dated 7 November 1864, was read.

At length Mr, Acton Tindal, who was churchwarden, stated that he accepted this upon the condition that he should not be called upon to levy a church-rate by any compulsory means, a statement which had considerable effect.

Finding the general feeling of the vestry to be opposed to a church-rate, the committee depended entirely upon the voluntary principle for support, and their appeal for the necessary funds was well responded to.

By the following September £1,558 had been subscribed, and the first contract was entered into for the restoration of the west end, which was commenced in the spring of 1866, and as subscriptions came in liberally, it was determined to carry out the work in a more thorough manner than was at first contemplated.

The proceedings of the day were more than usually of an imposing character; the church was handsomely and extensively decorated, and the bells rang merrily; between the services a public luncheon was held in the Corn Exchange, which was largely attended.

Some late Saxon and medieval activity other than burials have been identified in this area, such as 10th- to 12th-century ditches, pits and wells, pottery and animal remains at the corner of Temple and Bourbon Streets after house demolition.

There was also an unauthorised straggling path eastward of the chancel; there was no outside fence, nor did anything like the present palisade exist; a decayed post and rail ran round on the north side, but it was so dilapidated as to be useless.

As a burial place Aylesbury Churchyard was much overcrowded; and it was with difficulty that grave space could be found for an interment without disturbing the remains of an already existing occupant.

[1] Music performs a role in St Mary's church and community life, particularly at formal worship, and other activities that take place in the building.

At the meeting £20 a year was voted to an organist, the sum to be raised by equal taxation on all parish dwelling houses rateable to the poor.

This was then moved by raising it high into the north transfer (allegedly to allow gymnastics to take place across the floor space underneath, which never did occur).

Hill Norman and Beard took over maintenance and also installed a small 'Chester' pipe organ of five extended ranks into the north side west end of the church.