Duxford St John's

Our warmest thanks to Accorde Chamber Choir for their beautiful concert yesterday. With 22 singers in an unusually-shaped building, they adapted well to the space and amply filled the church with song. How pleased Sir John Rutter would have been to hear his setting of Blow, blow thou winter wind, living as he did, a stone's throw from St John's.

A brand new season of summer concerts will resume in 2025 and plans have already begun to source the best musicians we can find.

It's concert day! Finzi, Gjeilo, Tavener, Tsavdar, Purcell, Rutter, Stanford, Stroope, Debussy, Powell, Whitacre and Chatman all await you at 3pm. Admission free. Yes, it's wet, but don't sit at home feeling glum, come and experience something uplifting!

All is peace and tranquility in St John's this morning but tomorrow we welcome Accorde Chamber Choir at 3pm for an hour of sublime music... and it's free!

The choir of 22 singers will be sure to delight you, even if the weather outside turns damp. It's even more reason for you to come along instead of watching the drips down your window.

Doors open at 2.30pm and refreshments are available for a donation. There will be a retiring collection on behalf of St John's Church.

Empty pews in empty crossings

Congratulations to Ickleton Lion Community Pub on their incredible fundraising to save their last remaining historic village pub. Such admirable community spirit.

Cambridgeshire village raises £440k to save last pub from sale Donors hope to buy a closed pub from a brewing giant and "let the Lion roar again".

A dreamy nighttime scene with a perfectly-placed "Plough" constellation over St John's. It's been a chilly week but the clear night skies sometimes give back something wonderful. Thanks to Gillian for taking this and sending it to us.

It's a pleasure to announce that St John's will be hosting the parish's service for All Souls Day on 2nd November at 5pm. All are welcome to attend. The service will last approx. 30 mins and the church will be lit by candles. We will give more information as available or you can visit www.hinkledux.com for their service sheet.

Looking back to warmer days from the garden of nearby Robynet House, open occasionally for charity fundraising visit in the village. It also gives one of the nicest views of St John's from without the boundary wall.

Autumn has arrived at St John’s and the church is decorated with colourful gourds and late summer flowers to welcome you! Do come by if you’re in the area for Heritage Open Days or need a break on the dull M11!

What a difference a day makes. It’s grey and muggy outside after blazing summer sun yesterday. The one thing that stays the same is that we are open for your visit and still well worth it!

Another glorious day due with 27°C predicted and lots of sunshine. Perfect for grabbing those light & shade shots at St John's. Or you could stand in the churchyard and watch the village's Soapbox Derby zoom past at midday (children's race) and 1pm (adults).

Look who made it to Helen's photo choice from this summer's Duxford Gardens!

The church is a playground for so much wildlife, from wall-burrowing bees to bats and butterflies, spiders and ladybirds. On the tip of the spire, it's a constant fight as to who gets top spot. Will it be a pigeon, a starling, a jackdaw or a kestrel?

Read the excellent write-up of St John's from Robin's recent visit, and explore the many other churches in neighbouring counties that have led to the creation of his website. Then maybe plan your own visit, although please don't leave it as long!

Duxford St John | Churchcrawling It was a bright and sunny early August day in 2024 and a long awaited trip to Duxford, with this being part way through what turned in to a 12 church crawl in which all of the churches were open. The village here is doubtless best known for the Imperial War Museum and air shows but I was solely inte...

A huge thanks to Evelyn Nallen & Derek Scurll Music for their performance at St John's Church, Duxford today. What a varied, measured and rewarding programme of music which created quite a buzz amongst the audience of around 60. The concert raised much-needed funds for the church and its projects and was a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

Another wonderful performance from This Is My Theatre today, with their touring production of Edith Nesbit's FIVE CHILDREN & IT. Thank you for giving so many people a reason to be happy. Catch them on tour in rep with A Midsummer Night's Dream at a venue near you - go to http://thisismytheatre.com

Following visits with Robin Hood 🏹 and Much Ado About Nothing 🎭 last year we can’t wait to return to Duxford St John's this Summer, this time with Edith Nesbit’s mischievous adventure story Five Children & It 💫

Some tickets are still available and you can get yours 👇

www.thisismytheatre.com/duxford

Today is the anniversary of our vesting in The Churches Conservation Trust. It was 45 years ago today (26th July 1979) that our beautiful Grade I listed church was protected for the nation.

Please note that St John's will be closed this Saturday, 27th July, for a private memorial service. Please plan your visit around this date. Thank you for your understanding.

Today, all the groups and societies in the village are gathering together at the Duxford Community Centre to celebrate DuxDay. Representatives recruiting new members - everything from the allotments society to tennis and bowls clubs, via the community choir, WI, history society and the newly-formed Friends of Duxford Churches. Come and meet us today from 2-4pm in the large hall and chat all things churches and find out how you can join in.

Based upon the ever-popular story by Edith Nesbit, Five Children and It comes to Duxford on Saturday 10 August at 3pm.

The five children - Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane, and their baby brother, known as the Lamb - are playing in a gravel pit one morning when they uncover a rather grumpy and sometimes tricky Psammead, a sand-fairy with the ability to grant wishes. Join them on their adventures as they learn what it is to be careful what you wish for!

With live music and puppetry throughout, children and adults will love this adaptation, performed open-air in the churchyard of St John's Church.

Tickets are on sale now at www.thisismytheatre.com/duxford

A pop of summer colour.

Coming up on 20th & 21st July: DUXFORD GARDENS. A rare chance to see private gardens open in support of St Peter's Church "Raise the Roof" campaign. Tickets £5 (adults) on the day from St Peter's Church, as well as delicious homemade cakes! We hope to see you there.

Summer's at its fullest green and St John's hides amongst the foliage. Wishing our followers a good week.

Don’t forget to look up outside too! Last night’s mackerel sky was legendary.

The chancel roof, due to its quality, was likely the work of the master carpenters of Clare College, the historic patrons of St John's. Floral bosses line the central intersections and it remains one of the star features of the medieval church.

The symmetry isn’t perfect but nothing really is. The delight is all about the aesthetic, the sympathy and, of course, the little monsters hiding above your head!

Let’s spend the week looking up! This is the scissor beam nave roof. For many years there was a suspended ceiling covering the ancient beams but, like many things, time and decay were its demise.

A Wednesday windowsill from St John's

Basking in the morning sun