On Sunday, March 30th, 1851 a census was held covering all churches, chapels and preaching-houses of every religious deonomination in England and Wales. This census is important as it provides the only fullscale statistical picture of all the denominations that we have for the nineteenth century. It was organised through the usual channel of the Registrars’ Districts. Forms were left by local enumerators at every place of worship, and collected on Monday, March 31st.

Census day itself was wet and unpleasant. Some places advanced this as a reason for diminished congregations (see for example Riseley Church of England 3, and Potton Church of England 43) but in general the weather does not seem to have greatly affected numbers. Other reasons put forward for below average congregations were sickness (e.g. Oakley Church of England 24, and Meppershall Church of England 60), social causes (e.g. Blunham, where some of the congregation had been forced into the workhouse 40), and special services at other churches (e.g. Biggleswade Wesleyan 56, and Luton Old Meeting 105).

There was some opposition to the census, especially among certain of the Anglican clergy. This took various forms. At Pavenham and Felmersham Rev. Fielding Palmer made no attempt to give an estimated number of attendants, while Rev. T. J. Day of Bletsoe gave full expression to his feelings on the “Remarks” section of the form. The most common form of opposition was refusal to fill in the form at all. Occasionally the task was carried out by some other person of authority in the parish, as for example at Tilbrook (113) where it was done by the Constable. In other cases it was left to the local registrar to complete the form in October 1851 (e.g. Tempsford 39, Sutton 46, Flitton 73, Stanbridge 95). The only other complaint about the Census in the county came from the Catholic and Apostolic Church at Bedford (26). The objection here was based on “being classed under any sectarian name”.

Three different census forms were used – one for the Church of England, one for the Society of Friends, and one that was intended for all other denominations.