Hockliffe is a parish in the hundred of Manshead, in the county of Bedford, 3½ miles E.N.E. from Leighton-Buzzard, containing 393 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, united in 1772 to the vicarage of Chalgrave, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese or Lincoln, rated in the King's books at £16 9s 7d; Mrs. Robinson was patroness in 1791. The church is dedicated to St. Nicholas. There is a place of worship for Independents. Francis West, in 1690, bequeathed £400 for educating poor children of Hockliffe and Chalgrave: the income is £30 a year, for which nine boys of each parish are instructed. So early as the reign of John here was an hospital, founded for a master and brethren, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
Source - A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831
The parish church of St. Nicholas, which occupies a commanding site upon the rising ground, off the Walling Street, to the north-west of the village, dates probably from the 13th century; the present structure is mainly of the latter part of the 15th century and consists of chancel, nave, north chapel and vestry, south porch and a western embattled tower containing 4 bells : it was restored, repaired and reseated and the nave and chancel almost rebuilt in 1861: the font door is an arched recess for the holy water stoup : there is an Easter sepulchre in the north wall of the sanctuary and a piscina in the south wall, both of the Perpendicular period :. the sedilia, adjoining the piscina, appear to be of an earlier period, possibly of the 13th century: the oak reredos was erected by the Rev. F. H. Gray, rector 1869- 87 : the stained east window was placed in 1870 and there are two other stained windows : an organ was erected in 1873 by public subscription. The registers date from the year 1620.
Here also are Congregational, Wesleyan, and Primitive Methodist chapels.
Source - Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898