Category Archives: News

Recruiting St Mary’s Bellringers… could you ring for the King?!

St Mary’s Bellringers are recruiting … we need YOU to ring for the King!!!

We are hosting Open Tower events as follows:

  • Saturday 4 March – 2 sessions 10.00am – 12noon and 1.30 – 3.00pm
  • Sunday 5 March – 11.15am – 12.30pm

We would particularly like families with 13-18 year olds who would like to pursue a new hobby and learn together.

However all are welcome to come along to find out more about what we do, see the bells, and if they want to have a go at the historical art of tower bell ringing.

Learning now would hopefully enable new ringers to join with the nation in ringing for the King’s Coronation in May and be heard throughout the village celebrating this memorable event.

We also hope that you would be able to commit long-term to this unique activity.

If you would like more information contact Liz Middleton

Discussion Groups with Vicar Candidates

Do you enjoy chatting, listening, and debating? Would you like to meet some of the shortlisted candidates for our new vicar?

We are in need of a wide range of participants to get involved in discussion groups which will be led by each of the four shortlisted candidates on Monday 20th February.

The discussions will be friendly and informal, and will cover a range of issues and ideas, based around a passage from the bible. There is no need for any background knowledge or theological training – if you’re good at chatting and listening, and open to sharing thoughts and ideas with others you will be more than qualified to join in!

Each discussion group will last 30 minutes, and you’re welcome to sign up to attend one or two of these, (no more than two please, or it disadvantages candidates running the later groups). These will be at 9:30am, 10:15am, 11:15am, 12:00pm in the Upper Room at church on Monday 20th February.

To sign up: please add your name to the list in church or e-mail the Churchwardens.

Recruiting a new Vicar: Our Parish Profile

Over the last few months the PCC and Churchwardens have been working hard on our ‘Parish Profile’ – a key document in recruiting our new vicar that sets out what sort of parish St Mary’s is, how we would like to grow and develop, and what we are looking for in our next vicar.

If you’re interested in reading the final document it is now available here:

What happens next?

The post will be advertised in early January via the Diocese of St Albans, Church of England and the Church Times.  The deadline for applications is 1st February and interviews will take place on 20th February.

The interview process will be extensive, with all candidates being grilled by a group of children at Redbourn Primary School, leading a bible study session with groups from the congregation, giving a sermon and a formal interview with a panel of 6 including representatives from St Mary’s PCC, the Bishop of Hertford, Rural Dean of Wheathampstead Deanery and a representative of our patron, the Earl of Verulam.  They will also have the opportunity to tour the village and look around the Vicarage, and will each be hosted for lunch by members of our St Mary’s family.

Once the role has been offered and accepted, it may still be some months before the announcement is made depending on the circumstances of the successful candidate.

Please keep in your prayers all those who will consider applying for this post, and those involved in the shortlisting and interview process.