Articles from the Parish (Blog)
most recent first … includes posts that relate to past events
Christmas Services at St. Mary’s
Christmas at All Saints
Opportunity to explore the foundations of the Christian Faith
Explore the foundations of Christian faith in the New Year
There is a wonderful opportunity to explore the foundations of Christian faith in the Parish in the early months of next year.
This might be for you; this might be for a friend. Please think about it and pass it on to anyone who comes to mind.
There is one for adults and one for teens
Christmas at St. Nicholas’ Church
Public Notice: Faculty for new heating solution for St Nicholas Church
View the Public Notice here
As many of you will be aware our current gas boiler at St Nicholas’ Church broke down last year and we endured a winter of cold services.
The Church of England has a policy of encouraging the replacement defunct heating solutions with ones which help us to achieve our Net Zero Carbon (NZC) target, and St Nicholas DCC and the PCC support this policy.
Following an Energy Audit of St Nicholas Church, extensive consultations with the Diocese NZC officer and with heating professionals, the PCC has authorised the heating solution in the Public Notice to be carried out to enable us to have a warm Church in the coming winter.
(more…)Public Notice: St Nicholas Church Organ – Proposal for a tonal improvement
We have applied to make changes to our church organ
View the Supporting documents here
It is a good instrument that has been well-designed and well maintained. It will not need any major work in the foreseeable future. Eric Pask, a previous Organist and former Diocesan Organ Advisor, was largely responsible for a creating this versatile instrument.
However, one organ stop is rarely used, the Great Dolce 8ft. It is so quiet that it is almost inaudible – this means it won’t combine with any other stops in a meaningful way.
(more…)‘Pause for Thought’ contributor installed as Rector of Harpenden
St Nicholas’ Church, Harpenden was full to capacity last Sunday for the Institution and Induction of the new Rector of Harpenden, the Reverend Patrick Moriarty. A congregation of some 400, with many more watching the live stream of the service on Facebook, joined the Bishop of Hertford, Jane Mainwaring, and the King’s representative, Marion Brown, to welcome the new Rector. Harpenden Mayor, Pip Liver, and local MP, Victoria Collins, led the civic leaders attending.
In his new role, Patrick will oversee worship across three Anglican churches in the town, St Nicholas’, St Mary’s and All Saints.
Patrick commented, “My family and I were touched by the greeting we received on Sunday. Harpenden is such a fantastic town and I’m excited to meet the people and explore my new home. St Nicholas’, St Mary’s and All Saints are a huge part of community life in Harpenden and we’re looking forward to becoming a full part of that. With Easter only a few weeks away, I can’t think of a better time to be starting my ministry here, as I build on the success of my predecessor.”
Patrick was ordained to the priesthood in 2018, alongside his career in education. He was Headteacher of the Jewish Community Secondary School in Barnet between 2012 and 2022. He is a Trustee of the Council of Christians and Jews, a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’ and a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. He is married with grown-up and school-age children and has most recently been Associate Priest at St Stephen’s and St Julian’s Church in St Albans.
He succeeds Rev’d Canon Dennis Stamps who had been Rector since 2012 and moved to a new Parish in the Cotswolds last summer.
Simply Worship at St. Mary’s
First Sundays@StMarys
Helping our local Ukrainian community
Since the war in Ukraine began, the Parish has taken a number of initiatives to offer support to Ukrainians in Harpenden. In the first phase of their arrival, we offered help with clothing, access to the swimming pool and holiday clubs, Christmas hampers, and welcomed them to coffee mornings and fun activities. We continue to pray for them and for their friends and families in Ukraine. We pray for peace and justice for all.
Most recently, we were pleased to host a special information session for local Ukrainians about finance and taxes. This took place in the Church Hall at St. Nicholas’, as the photo shows.
Our friends in Markyate, at St. John’s Church, organise help for refugees locally and welcome your help. See link here:
Our friends from Flamstead and Markyate churches continue to support refugees. Help is welcome to provide conversation and games at Markyate Baptist Church, Weds 2.30-4.30pm, or by providing clothing. Revd Jo Burke at St Leonards Flamstead is collecting donations of: warm casual clothing, casual coats, new socks and underwear, also bags or suitcases in good condition. These can be taken to Flamstead Church by arrangement, or direct to Markyate Baptist Church on a Weds pm.