|
 Welcome
to the web pages for the Church of England Parish of Wheathampstead.
In these pages you will find details of our congregational life and church
activities as well as future events and contacts within the parish.
Apart from myself as Rector, our Leadership and Ministry
team consists of our Curate, Martin King; Readers, Pippa Legg and John
Grace;
our pastoral assistants, Ann Hayes and Louise
Edwards and
our churchwardens, Alison Pangbourne and Laurence Mallett. We
are also fortunate to have 3 retired clergy in the village who have an
active role in our church life.
The congregation has a broad range of churchmanship and
ages. Our main focus is the 9.30am Parish Communion.
There is a range of children's and youth work from 2½ to 17 years
on Sundays; we also maintain a special area where parents of under-3s can
sit in comfort with their children during the 9.30am service if they wish.
On Thursday mornings during term-time we host a mid-week Tots’ Time
service for pre-school children. A 20-piece orchestra
supplements the work of the choir and organ about 5 times a year and for
some services we have a modern music group. There is a pattern of
all age social events. Study and fellowship groups seek to
deepen our growing in faith.
On 1st Sundays an informal (non-sacramental) all
age service takes place at both churches in addition to the normal pattern
of services. The evening worship on the 1st Sunday is at St.
Helen's but on the other Sundays (except for special occasions e.g. United
Services, and Deanery Evensong) it is held at St. Peter's.
Our churches are also important to the
wider neighbourhood, to churches of other denominations and to
non-worshippers; many baptisms, weddings and funerals take place in St.
Helen’s or St Peter’s, and the churchyard at St Helen’s is still
open for burials. Remembrance Sunday and Village Day Services are
also important civic occasions which take place in St. Helen’s Church.
There is a tradition of young people taking part in summer
camps and some go on to gain experience of working abroad in testing
situations. Our churches are substantial contributors to the Church
Mission Society and take an active interest in many other charitable concerns
locally and further afield.
We make a priority of pastoral care, both within the
congregations and in the wider community. The parish has strong links with
both St. Helen’s Church of England School and Beech Hyde School in
Wheathampstead. Members of our congregations also have a wider
outlook, serving on Diocesan Boards, Committees, General Synod and taking
part in Reader Training.
Rev. Andrew Doye
The Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens, Wheathampstead, AL4 8AD
Tel: 01582 833144
email: 
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