St Mary Bayford
Chapel of Holy Cross &
St Alban, Brickendon
St Mary the Virgin
Essendon
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St Andrew’s
Little Berkhamsted
St Mary
Ponsbourne
The Benefice of Hartford Hundred (West) was established on November 1st, 1976 as a “united benefice” combining the four parishes of Bayford & Brickendon, Essendon & Woodhill, Little Berkhamsted and Ponsbourne (Newgate Street), with its centrally located Rectory in the village of Little Berkhamsted. In the 42 years since then, the group has developed a coherence and a distinct identity whilst retaining the individuality of the separate churches.
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We are part of the St. Albans Diocese within the Church of England and are united with the desire to welcome every person, young and older, into our wonderful community minded church families. We have 5 beautiful church buildings with various styles of worship, partnerships with three excellent Church of England Schools and a clear Bible based ministry.
We are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our community. Find out more here
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Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Our church buildings are closed not only for public worship, but for private prayer as well.
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THE WORSHIP OF GOD can continue in our hearts and homes.
Ministers will continue to maintain a praying and worshipping presence from theirs.
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“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.”
To protect the vulnerable amongst us, please do not leave your home except for essential trips.
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For resources for home prayer and worship see: www.stalbans.anglican.org/faith/living-gods-love-at-all-times
A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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The June edition of the Parish Magazine (like April and May's editions), is only available on line.
It is very different from March’s printed edition.
There are unfortunately some gaps; so many items are no longer relevant. But on the bright side pictures are in colour and there is no restriction on the number of pages.
The printed monthly Parish Magazine contains all the church and village news from our parishes. It costs just 60p per copy or £6 for an annual subscription. Please contact Mike Wainwright at parishmag@begesford.co.uk to subscribe.
Apple Daycare is still open for children of key workers.
We are providing an evening meal for the children in our care.
If there are families in our community that are in need of an evening meal for their child, or children we can cook extra for you.
Please message on 07876 136348 if you would like us to provide dinner for your children. You can collect from Newgate Street Village Hall.
The Apple Team
The Hartford Hundred Group wood yard is still open and safely delivering half loads while maintaining distancing requirements. No full loads are available until June and a few days notice would be very helpful as we are chopping to order. There are still loads of logs available, just call on 01707 261258, leave a message and Colin will call you back.
A generous half load (3/4's of a cubic meter) requests a minimum contribution of £70, and all proceeds still go in total, to your local church.
As the churches are currently closed, any donations will be
appreciated.
Please do contact the Parish treasurers to get account details if you wish to give. Their phone numbers can be found here.