Parish Takes Over Post Office Duties

LONDON — A Church of England parish has come to the rescue of a village in danger of losing its post office.

In the village of Hemingford Grey, 12 miles northwest of Cambridge, the 70-year-old postmaster announced his retirement, but no one came forward to replace him. The village has a high proportion of elderly residents as well as a considerable number of mothers with small children.

Both groups would be hard-pressed to walk the two miles, or drive four, to the nearest alternative post office in the town of St. Ives.

So the parish of St. James stepped in. The parish administrator, 43-year-old David Usher, said he will add the job of postmaster to his other duties. The post office will move to the parish center.