We can announce that two of our churches are now open for private prayer/peace and quiet on Sundays going forward as follows:

St James Church, Little Paxton will be open on Sundays from 10.00am to 12 Noon and St Leonards, Southoe will be open Sundays fro 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Holy Trinity Church in Great Paxton will need a good clean before we re-open on Sunday 5th July from 10.30am to 4.00pm.

St Laurence Church, Diddington will reain closed for the time being.

We do hope people will take advantage of being able to come into our churches againa after many weeks of them being closed.  Thanks to those who have prepared the buildings to be safe for visitors.  Please do observe the social distancing and use the hand sanitiser available.

Thank you.

An historic moment on 19th June when Stephen Hall played the refurbished Bevington organ in Holy Trinity Church, Great Paxton!  Vicar Annette, organist David Weir and neighbour Ursula were all present at a social distance to hear the beautiful sounds of two hymns - 'Be Still for the Presence of the Lord' and 'In Christ Alone'.

After Stephen had played and there was some animated comments, David then stepped up to play 'All Things Bright & Beautiful'.

We look forward to inviting an audience to come to hear the organ played by local organists and give it a blessing.

Below is a video of Stephen playing:

Beginning on 1st June, the late 19th Century Bevington Organ in Great Paxton Church has been cleaned and refurbished.  The organ builders were able to commence work taking the necessary precautions and the Vicar stood at a distance to take pictures!

It is a pipe organ with a tracker action.  Originally there would have been a real organ blower - often a young person - but now the organ blower is an electronically charged turbine.  It supplies a steady stream of air to the organ.  We are very grateful to the donor who is making this project possible.  The work is being undertaken by Norman Hall and Sons based in Cambridge and in order to clean the organ they removed parts of organ including the pipes, key board and pedals.  A label was found inside the organ stating it was built in 1880 - earlier than we thought.  Could it have been given by the Towgood family from Paxton Hill House?  Another delivery label states it came from Rose Street in London (consistent with Bevington's premises) but unfortunately part of the label is missing which states who had ordered it.  We cane make out the word Hall on the far right corner - but if it was given by the Towgoods they lived at Paxton Hill House.  It would probably have come by train to St Neots, and then by cart/carriage to the Church.  The label reads Midland carriage.  It has been fascinating to see the various innards of this instrument and it has helped that the church is not currently being used at the moment as the workers can use the pews to lay the various parts out safely.

Hopefully in the near future we shall have a recital and hope lots of people will come to hear this charming antique instrument sing sweetly.

Below are two videos.  One of an interview with Charles Hall, who with his brother has been working on the organ, and the other of the Vicar's musings:

One of the volunteers from Paxton Pits, Ann, has contacted us to publicise the fact that bird seed is currently available for sale.  Paxton Pits Centre is obviously closed at the moment, but bird seed is available to purchase in the village.  All proceeds will go towards the Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.  Initial contact should be via email direct to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

or phone 01480 387749

Seed can be collected (with prior arrangement) from Lakefield Avenue or if people are isolating then a delivery could be arranged.  Payment is by cash, cheque, or BACs.  Prices are as follows: