MILLENNIUMFEST
1,000 Years of Great Paxton
this event is now over

Saturday and Sunday the 16th and 17th July 2022

Thanks to your support in helping to fundraise for this event and the generosity of organisations who have awarded grants, we are able to go ahead with plans for this village celebration postponed since 2020.

Great Paxton, Holy Trinity Church he construction of our Saxon church began in 1020, the village is a similar age, the 1,000 year celebrations will have a Saxon theme. A two day village celebration will take place over the weekend of the 16th and 17tth of July 2022.

The churchyard with our magnificent millennium-old Holy Trinity church as a backdrop will be the setting for the two day celebration.

TTRACTIONS:

FREE entry with many displays and entertainments at no additional charge

Living History Encampment by historical enactors Ousekjarr

Archery - have a go

BBQ, burgers and hot dogs with vegetarian options

Bar provided by THE BELL

Soft drinks and snacks supplied by the VILLAGE SHOP

Trade stalls

Battle skills displays - have a go

Story Tellers, Theatre and Stocks - Atmosphere of an Anglo Saxon village through

Lots of activities for the children to get involved in

n 1020, whilst King Cnut (Canute) was on the throne of England, our Holy Trinity Church was built as a Minster. This meant that it was there as a centre to train monks who would journey into the surrounding countryside to spread the word of god.

We don't know why it was built in Great Paxton, then known as Pachstone, but what we do know is that Edward, who would become King Edward the Confessor and eventually canonised, owned 23 hides (a unit of land measurement) in our 'manor' of Great Paxton and would be certainly have been responsible for the building.

aturday 17th July

10.20 to 17.00 a day with food and drink, stalls, and entertainments for all ages

 

Step back into Saxon times and find out what it would have been like to live in Great Paxton with your great-great x 40 (a rough calculation gives about 40 generations)  grandparents.

 

All Day

  • Living History Encampment by Ousekjarr - showcasing Anglo Saxon crafts, life and music, starts at 10.20 am
  • Mask making stall - come and colour in a ready-cut mask
  • BBQ with vegetarian options by Graham Anness and helpers (approx. 11.30am - 15.30 pm)
  • Bar by The Bell
  • Soft drinks and snacks supplied by the Community Shop
  • Detectorist Tony Hagger - see some Anglo-Saxon finds from the area and try your hand at detecting
  • Time capsule table - give some ideas for our time capsule to be sealed until 2100 AD
  • Join in by coming in Anglo-Saxon costume
  • Archery - have a go with Ousekjarr (safety arrowheads)
  • Photo booth frames
  • History exhibitions

 

Timed Activities

  • 10.30 - 11.00: Saxon warrior battle skills by Ousekjarr
  • 11.00 - 11.30: Protect your Saxon village from attack by Ousekjarr
  • 11.30 - 12.00: Storytellers chair with Sarah Hogben (former head of Great Paxton school)
  • 12.00 - 12.30: Archeological dig of Saxon grave - see the grave goods and then reveal the skeleton

  • 13.00 - 14.00: Music of the time by Peppercorns choir inside the church
  • 14.00 - 14.30: Saxon warrior battle skills by Ousekjarr
  • 14.30 - 15.00: Protect your Saxon village from attack by Ousekjarr
  • 15.00 - 15.30: Storytellers chair with Sarah Hogben (former head of Great Paxton school)
  • 15.30 - 16.00: Archeological dig of Saxon grave - see the grave goods and then reveal the skeleton

 

Marketplace

  • Millenniumfest merchandise, jams, chutneys, lavender bags, branded bookmarks, branded cotton tote bags
  • Engraved Great Paxton wooden and slate goods
  • Church history booklet
  • St. Neots Natural Soaps from Kata Magee
  • Ciaran the Wood Whittler - lovely carved spoons and forks
  • Fatbob Crafts - engraved leather goods

unday 18th July

10.20 to 15.30, Bell ringing and a procession by guiding groups to the church for a celebratory service with invited guests.
18.30 to 19.30, Evensong 

Many of Saturday's activities with the addition of Maypole dancing by Great Paxton schoolchildren and a Peppercorns musical, (no bar or BBQ).

 

In the Church, procession at 10.20, service from 10.30 - 12.15, celebratory service

  • Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Nik Johnson - County Councillor, Stephen Ferguson - District Councillor, Richard West - Liz Davies, Head Curator, St. Neots museum
  • Mr. Butler's poem about Great Paxton
  • Prize giving for the 500 word story competition
  • Cutting of the 1,000 cake with refreshments 11.00 - 11.30
  • Peppercorns Academy Time Warp Musical - written especially for Great Paxton 11.45 - 12.15

 

On Site 12.30 - 15.30

  • Living History Encampment by Ousekjarr - showcasing Anglo Saxon crafts, life and music, starts at 10.20 am
  • Mask making stall - come and colour in a ready-cut mask
  • Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cake available in the church until 15.00
  • Detectorist Tony Hagger - see some Anglo-Saxon finds from the area and try your hand at detecting
  • Time capsule table - give some ideas for our time capsule to be sealed until 2100 AD
  • Join in by coming in Anglo-Saxon costume
  • Archery - have a go with Ousekjarr (safety arrowheads)
  • Photo booth frames
  • History exhibition

 

Timed Activities

  • 12.30 - 13.00: Saxon warrior battle skills by Ousekjarr
  • 13.00 - 13.30: Protect your Saxon village from attack by Ousekjarr
  • 13.30 - 14.00: Archeological dig of Saxon grave - see the grave goods and then reveal the skeleton
  • 14.00 - 14.30: Storytellers chair with Wendy Harkin
  • 14.30 - 15.00: Maypole and country dancing by Great Paxton schoolchildren

 

Marketplace

  • Millenniumfest merchandise, jams, chutneys, lavender bags, branded bookmarks, branded cotton tote bags
  • Engraved Great Paxton wooden and slate goods
  • Church history booklet
  • Ciaran the Wood Whittler - lovely carved spoons and forks

 

Everyone is welcome to come back later for:

In the Church 18.30 - 19.30, Evensong

  • Bishop Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely and acting Bishop of Lincoln will take the Evensong service
  • Choir
  • Dedication of the beautiful pew cushions that have been crafted and completed so far by the village Crafty Belles
  • Refreshments available afterwards

If you wish to speak to anyone about these events please contact:

  • Website manager and village historian, Paul Ward  07483 815160