Latest News
A gift of fundraising help for parishes
1st October 2019
Ecclesiastical Insurance is providing free practical fundraising support and guidance for churches in the Diocese of St Albans. They are trialling two options: fundraising seminars and a funding insights website. During the trial, they are aiming to understand what works best for your Church, so that they can look to target their support where it… Read more »
Is localism the church’s answer to life after Brexit?
30th September 2019
This article first appeared in issue 2 of Alban Life (March 2019) – a quarterly printed magazine which is distributed to all parishes in the diocese. Click here to read more articles from the ‘Alban Bites’ blog. The Revd Lucy Dallas offers a longer view of what the church offers our fractured nation after Brexit…. Read more »
Walk on the moon at St Albans Cathedral: where will your ‘one small step’ take you?
30th September 2019
“Cathedrals specialise in awe and transcendence,” says the Dean of St Albans, Dr Jeffrey John, and the Space Voyage installation coming to the cathedral this autumn could take that to a whole new level. He continues: “They were built to remind us that we are small and finite in the universe, yet surrounded by the… Read more »
A Slow and Green Christmas won’t cost the Earth
26th September 2019
This article first appeared in issue 1 of Alban Life (December 2018) – a quarterly printed magazine which is distributed to all parishes in the diocese. Click here to read more articles from the ‘Alban Bites’ blog. Predictions point to the biggest consumer Christmas yet, and thoughtful people are beginning to question the spending, overproduction… Read more »
St Paul’s Church, Bedford is awarded ‘Major Parish Church’ status
18th September 2019
St Paul’s church in the centre of Bedford is celebrating its award as a Major Parish Church and being granted membership of the Major Churches Network, in recognition of its importance to the town. The Major Churches Network is a body set up by the Church of England which comprises 350 of the largest and… Read more »
The Archdeacon of Bedford’s Walking Pilgrimage of Bedfordshire
15th September 2019
Click here to hear Archdeacon Dave talking to Mike Naylor on BBC Three Counties about what an Archdeacon does and what he has learnt from his recent walking pilgrimage of Bedfordshire. An excellent interview, well worth a listen! The new Archdeacon of Bedford, the Ven Dave Middlebrook led a walking pilgrimage of the six deaneries in… Read more »
£20,000 National Churches Trust grants for two churches
12th September 2019
St Mary’s Church, Reed in Hertfordshire and St Edmund or St James, Blunham are each being granted £10,000 from the National Churches Trust, two among 48 churches sharing a total of £290,000 in grants. St Mary’s, Reed (pictured above) dates from the early 11th Century, making it among the oldest in the diocese. According to… Read more »
Six new Readers for the Diocese of St Albans
12th September 2019
The following Readers were Admitted and Licensed by the Bishop of Bedford on 7th July 2019 at St Albans Cathedral: Ruth Gray to All Saints’, Clifton and Southill Lindsay Hall to Chellington Team Sarah Ibrahim to All Saints’, Bedford Hilary Pask to Harpenden (St. Mary’s) Mary Rathbone to Bishop’s Hatfield Team Julie Taylor to… Read more »
Archdeacon of St Albans to retire in 2020
10th September 2019
Archdeacon of St Albans to retire in early 2020 10/09/19 After almost 12 years in post, the Archdeacon of St Albans has announced that he will retire in early 2020. His retirement will fall in his fortieth year of ordained ministry. This has included serving in rural North Bedfordshire, suburban Hertfordshire and in chaplaincy to… Read more »
Canon David Cheetham MBE, RIP
6th September 2019
St Albans Diocese has learned with great sadness of the sudden and unexpected death, on 5th September 2019, of Canon (Emeritus) David Cheetham MBE, Diocesan Registrar and Bishop’s Legal Adviser from 1978 to 2011. The Bishop of St Albans led tributes to David: “David was an excellent Registrar and servant of the diocese. His deep… Read more »