Category: Featured

‘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.

Parish Profile

Our Parish Profile has been prepared as part of the process of appointing a new Rector. It is an opportunity to share the wonderful things that we do here in the Parish with those who are considering such a move.

Parish Profile final v2Download

Request for Clergy Reference Form

Clergy Reference Request 2024Download

CLERGY REFERENCES (CHURCH FORMS) FOR APPLICATIONS TO ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL FOR ENTRY SEPTEMBER 2025.

In order that the parish may deal with requests for clergy references in an efficient manner, we ask that parents / guardians send the following documents by email to the parish office – office@parishofharpenden.org – by Tuesday 1 October 2024: 

1. completed ‘Request for Clergy Reference Form’ (available at the back of church OR for download from the Parish website OR from the parish office by email); and

2. scanned colour copy of your child’s completed record of church attendance (‘passport’).

Clergy reference requests will be processed by the parish office from 1 October to 9 October 2024 and may be collected from the parish office by parents/guardians on Saturday 12 October 2024 between 10am and 12.00 noon. Please contact the parish office by email at office@parishofharpenden.org or on telephone number 01582 765524 if you have any queries or any difficulties in sending the documents.