Facilities and features
Accessibility
There is a ramp for wheelchair users at the north door, which is the main entrance and a small ramp from the nave to give access to the chancel and Lady Chapel.
Accessible access is via the north door. There is a small ramp from the north porch into church. There is also a small ramp at the front of the Jesus Chapel to allow users to avoid steps and access the chancel and Lady Chapel.
We have a wheelchair available for use in church. Please ask a church steward.
Our church is a tranquil environment, open to all on a daily basis.
Gluten free communion wafers available
Gluten free biscuits are available with tea/coffee at the end of Sunday 9.30am service.
Assistance dogs are relied on by many and are therefore very welcome in church.
Toilets, including an accessible toilet, are available in the church rooms, a few yards from the church.
Loop system is available for those with hearing aids.
A small public car park is to be found near the west end of the church (off of Brook Street). There are public car parks within 5 minutes walk behind the High Street off of Tebbutts Road.
Large print service and hymn books available. We also provide copies of our weekly notice sheet and readings in large print format.
There are baby changing facilities in our church room toilets.
Our Building
Pevsner, in the Huntingdonshire volume of his series on the Buildings of England, describes it as one of the largest most uniform late mediaeval churches in the county. It is sometimes known as the cathedral of Huntingdonshire. The interior, much more obviously than the exterior, bears the mark of successive generations of worshippers. The present church is, as a place of worship, very much the work of the Victorians: the pews, the pulpit and the choir stalls. The font, at the west end of the nave, is thought to be one of the oldest parts of the building, possibly having come from the Priory. It seems to be not later than Norman. The Chancel is part of the earlier church, as evidenced by the remains of the thirteenth century window in the north side of the sanctuary.
The Lady chapel was added in the fifteenth century. The present communion table is Elizabethan, probably dating from about 1600.
Another fourteenth century feature is the niche in the north wall.
The spectacular stained glass is Victorian much of it by Messrs. Hardmans of Birmingham and the remainder by Clayton & Bell .
Toilets are in the church room, a building behind the church. They can always be accessed when the church is in use for services, concerts etc.
Music and Worship
Ringers practise on Fridays from 7.30pm and ring for half an hour before Sunday services.
Ringing for weddings available on request.
Occasional concerts and other events, some organised by the Friends of SNPC, are held in the church.
The organ is a fine Holdich organ, 3 manuals and pedals. Although more than 100 years old, it has been regularly maintained and recently rebuilt. It is used at all sung services, and has seen recitals by some fine organists including Francis Jackson and Anne Page.
The 8am Holy Communion service each Sunday is according to the BCP.
The choir practises in church on Friday evenings from 7.30pm.
The choir sings at Sunday services and we have Choral Evensong most months 6pm on the 4th Sunday.
Groups, Courses and Activities
We can provide contact details for local groups which provide support with addiction.
A bible study group meets regularly to look at various themes and aspects of The Bible.
Our Saturday Social group meets in the Church Room next to the church on the 4thSaturday of each month 11am to 1.3pm. It is preceded by a short communion service held in church at 10.45am to which all are welcome if they wish.
No need to book for Saturday Social. Just turn up and enjoy chat and refreshments. Everyone is welcome be they new or existing friends.
We can direct you to 'Money Advice St Neots (MAST) which provides support and advice on matters relating to debt.
Discipleship courses are held periodically within our deanery. This gives the opportunity for those who wish to take their next step on a journey of faith, to deepen their thoughts, discuss and meet with others on a similar path.
We can provide contact details for exercise groups which meet in our Church Room. They provide support and advice through yoga, pilates, dancing and general fitness. These are not organised by our church and usually require payment for each session to the group organiser.
Thursday Food is held at the Methodist Church, Berkeley Street, Eynesbury (around 1 minutes walk from St Neots Parish Church). This provides a meal from 6pm to 8pm for those in need.
We hold Messy Church-type activities usually linked to key festivals in the church years such as Easter and Christmas. There is no charge. Events will be posted on a Church Near Year as and when they are arranged.
We can direct you to 'Money Advice St Neots (MAST) which provides support and advise on matters relating to debt.
Mothers' Union meet monthly on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in May, June, July and September and on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm in February, March, October and November.. The programme includes a variety of visiting speakers and other activities.
A special service is held in church on Mary Sumner Day and an Advent service held on the first day of Advent.
Stay & Play takes place every Wednesday during school terms. Come along from 9.30am. Story time and songs at 10.45am, home at 11am. Toys and crafts for the children, lots of fellowship and chat for the grown-ups - mums, dads, grandparents, carers. All welcome.
Refreshments provided by Mothers' Union members.
Help for Visitors
A guidebook and notes about the history of our church and its windows are available to pick up and read when you come in.
The church is open daily from around 9am to 5pm (Times may vary slightly during the vacancy).
Feel free to come in and walk around. Our Lady Chapel provides a particularly quiet and serene place of comfort and reflection. Come on a sunny day to really appreciate our beautiful Victorian windows.
Well behaved dogs are welcome in church and during services.
The church is open daily from around 9am to 5pm (Times may vary slightly during the vacancy).
Feel free to come in and walk around. Our Lady Chapel provides a particularly quiet and serene place of comfort and reflection. Come on a sunny day to really appreciate our beautiful Victorian windows.
Other Features
We use fairly traded communion wine in our services and coffee at our coffee mornings and events.
Whilst Foodbank does not hold goods at our church, we can provide contact details for the local Foodbank in St Neots.
We also support the Foodbank through monetary donations, collection of food donations at Harvest and occasional fundraising events.
We have a hearing loop.
Our Grade 1 church sits within a designated conservation area in the centre of St Neots town. There are benches in the churchyard for anyone to enjoy sitting for a while.
The church room is available to hire. Information from the Parish Office [email protected] 01480 370312
Members of our church are involved with the charity and we can provide local contact details to those in need or those who wish to provide support through the work of the charity.