The Hartford Hundred (West) Group of Churches in the Diocese of St.Albans

The Hartford Hundred West Group

Welcome

The Hartford Hundred West Group comprises five churches in four parishes in rural south Hertfordshire (see map). On this website you can find information about the Group and each of our churches which are :-

	Bayford & Brickendon	St Mary, Bayford Holy Cross & St Alban, Brickendon
	Essendon & Woodhill	St Mary the Virgin, Essendon
	Little Berkhamsted	St Andrew, Little Berkhamsted
	Ponsbourne	St Mary, Ponsbourne (Newgate Street Village)

Worship

Sunday services are usually held during each month as follows:-

	1st Sunday	2nd Sunday	3rd Sunday	4th Sunday
8.00 am			Communion Little Berkhamsted
9.30 am	Communion Essendon	Communion Bayford	Communion Ponsbourne	Communion Little Berkhamsted
9.30 am	Family Service Ponsbourne	Family Service Essendon	Matins Essendon
11.00 am	Communion Brickendon	Matins Little Berkhamsted	Family Service Brickendon	Family Service Bayford

During August a single Group Communion service is held at 10.15 am.

When a 5th Sunday occurs in a month, a Group Communion service is held at 10.15 am as follows: 29th April 2012: Little Berkhamsted

Sunday Clubs for children meet
on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sundays in the month at 9.30 - 10.30 am in Essendon Church Room
on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in the month during the Family Service in Bayford Church

Weekday services are held as follows:-

Monday 10.15 am	Morning Prayer (Holy Communion, 1st Monday in the month), Little Berkhamsted
Wednesday 9.30 am	Holy Communion, Essendon

Healing and Wholeness Services
Every month in our group of Churches, a service of Holy Communion for Healing and Wholeness is held. In odd months (Jan, Mar etc.) the service is held at St Andrew's Church, Little Berkhamsted usually on the second Sunday at 6.30 pm. In even months (Feb, Apr etc.) the service is held at St Mary's, Essendon on the second Wednesday at 9.30 am.

At these services, we remember all those in particular need of our prayers because they are ill in body, mind or spirit. Not only do we share in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, but, for those who would like to do so there is "laying on of hands" in Jesus name [the person praying puts their hands on a person's head and prays specifically for God's healing for them.] We never know how God will answer those prayers - sometimes there is physical healing; sometimes there may be great peace of mind and a deepening of faith in the God who is love and who holds us in His everlasting arms, but we know that God hears our prayers either for ourselves or for others. All are welcome to these services.

See here for a detailed Calendar of all services and other meetings and events in the Group.

Clergy

Rector:	The Revd Canon Pauline Higham, Hartford Hundred Rectory, 1 Little Berkhamsted Lane, Little Berkhamsted, SG13 8LU. Telephone 01707 875940
Associate Priest:	The Revd Dr Judith Cope, 18 Hatherleigh Gardens, Potters Bar, EN6 5HZ. Telephone 01707 644391
Reader:	Rod Higham

The group also has a Lay Local Ministry Team and a Bereavement Visitors Group.

The senior churchwarden is Mr T M Sutcliffe, School Cottages, Newgate Street, SG13 8RA. Telephone 01707 874388. Details of all other churchwardens may be found with their respective churches.

The parish magazine editor is Mrs J Byrne, Rose Cottage, Little Berkhamsted Lane, Little Berkhamsted, SG13 8LU. Telephone 01707 876674

Activities

Some of the regular activities in our Group are:-

Monday 11.00 - 12 noon	Tiny Tots, St Andrew's, Little Berkhamsted
Thursday 2.00 - 4.00 pm	Study Group, St Mary's Church Room, Essendon

Confirmation

Ever thought of discovering more about the Christian Faith?
What about those promises made when I was christened?
What exactly happens at a Holy Communion service and how can I take a fuller part in this?
What does it mean to "confirm" my baptism promises?
How can I live life to the full even when there are difficult issues to be faced?
Does Jesus have a part to play in my life now and in the life of our world today?
If these are some of the questions you have, or you may have others, and would like to know more about confirmation, please contact Pauline on 01707 875940.

History

The Hartford Hundred West Group was formed in 1977 as a 'united benefice' combining the four parishes of Little Berkhamsted, Bayford & Brickendon, Essendon & Woodhill, and Ponsbourne. Ponsbourne had been under the charge of the Rector of Little Berkhamsted since 1971.