The Riversmeet Benefice comprises the Church of England parishes of Blunham, Great Barford, Roxton and Tempsford with Little Barford. The four parishes are located around the confluence of the rivers Ivel and Great Ouse in the northwest of the Biggleswade Deanery, which is in the northeast of the St Albans Diocese. It forms part of the ten parishes of the Ivel Group.

The Benefice is situated approximately eight miles to the east of Bedford, the county town of Bedfordshire. The area around the parishes is rural with local farming being mainly arable. The local rural towns of Eaton Socon, St Neots, Sandy and Biggleswade are situated nearby along the A1 corridor, with fast train links to London and the north.

Our Rector is Revd Graham Buckle, who lives at the Rectory in Blunham. We have a Benefice Council which consists of churchwardens, treasurers, readers, parish administrator and incumbent. There are currently five churchwardens, three treasurers and three readers. The council meets four times a year to discuss the pattern of services, especially for festivals, support activity to reduce poverty, and improving social welfare. There are several Church of England schools supported by us, which provide the primary means of primary school education for all who live in our benefice area.

Each church has one Holy Communion service at 9.30 am and one at 11 am each month. There is a variety of other services across the Benefice which are lay-led. Please see the section on services for further information.

We are a very friendly Benefice, with the four parishes enjoying getting together regularly both for worship and social events (see the Events, and This Month in the Benefice pages for information on what events are taking place).

Great Barford has a small choir, and Blunham has a small four-part choir. The choirs combine to sing at Benefice services, and weddings and funerals when requested. Our organist plays at two services most Sundays and supports as many Christmas services across all the churches as possible.

There is also a band of ringers which will ring at the churches (all of which have bells). They are available to ring at weddings.

Church Opening Times

Blunham – open every day from about 8.30am to early evening. Tea and coffee available to help yourself.

Great Barford – will be open on Tuesday afternoons, 2pm to 4pm, for looking around, quiet reflection or meeting friends for tea and cake.

Roxton – if you wish to visit the church, please ask for the key at the Post Office 

Tempsford – please see our service times for when you can visit. You will be very welcome

Services are often recorded and can be found on the Services page

Please contact Revd Graham Buckle regarding baptisms, weddings and funerals. His email address is: dovecote10@btinternet.com.
 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”