St. Helen's Parish Church & 
St. Peter's, Gustard Wood

Welcome

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.

The Rector position is vacant at at present.  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.

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Usual Sunday service times

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Contacts