Warm Welcome Spaces: come and join us!
Every week, we offer two Warm Welcome Spaces to those who need it over the cold winter months:
- Coffee Morning on Monday mornings, 9–11.30am at The Wilshere Hall
- The Community Hub Drop-in on Wednesdays, 10.30–11.30am at St Mary’s, St Margarets
These groups are a great way to make new friends, and share a cuppa and a chat (and some enjoyable activities) in a warm, welcome space.
In our Monday Coffee Morning, we have been having a lot of fun! On Monday 29th January, we recycled old candles to make new ones using a slow cooker. The wax was melted on a low heat and we added frankincense to scent it. We then poured the wax out and left them to cool. It we really well! We shared our new candles at Candlemas Prayers (on Wednesday 31st January after The Community Hub Drop-in) as we celebrated Jesus, who Simeon called The Light of the World!
Everyone is welcome at our Warm Welcome Spaces. We look forward to welcoming you!
[Click HERE to see our Warm Welcome Spaces poster. Please note, these sessions finish on 25th March]
Christmas Tree Festival 2023
On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December, 2–6pm, we held our Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, St Margarets.
The church looked beautiful all lit up with the trees that had been provided and decorated by local groups and businesses. Powell Funeral Services donated the tree for St Mary’s and Gini Trower from The Wallen Garden kindly loaned us two of her wonderful rooted trees. The amazing nativity scene at the altar, made by Mary Youngman and on loan from Hertford Baptist Church, was much admired by our visitors. We had some delicious cakes, biscuits and mince pies for refreshments; a raffle; a scavenger hunt for the children and some lovely craft items on safe.
The whole event was a brilliant success, with over 130 people coming along to get in the festive spirit over the two afternoons, and we were able to raise over £450. These funds will go towards the upkeep and work of the church.
We would like to thank everyone who helped: organising beforehand, providing and/or decorating trees, making cakes, volunteering as helpers, donating raffle prizes etc. It was a great team effort and we had some lovely feedback from those who came along.
Images: View from outside, Craft Stall, Our Memory Tree, The Three Villages Magazine, The 3 Churches Benefice Wednesday Coffee Morning, St Andrew’s Card-making Group, 1st Stanstead Abbotts Brownies, Age UK, St Andrew’s Primary School, Bobtails Playgroup & Teddy Club, Hoddesdon Ladies Club, Woodland Beavers Colony, St John the Baptist Church, St Mary’s Church, Nativity Scene by Mary Youngman (Hertford Baptist Church).
The Big Quiz Night for Tearfund
On Saturday 7th October, we had an epic night of poverty-beating fun as we took part in The Big Quiz Night for Tearfund. This is an event that is run nationally, with churches all over the UK taking part.
This year at The Wilshere Hall we had a great turnout with around 23 attendees. It was a fun night, coming together as a community to enjoy a good quiz, but also to raise much-needed funds for a fantastic charity.
At the last count, The 3 Churches Benefice raised over £120. Overall, 5320 quizzes were run, 144 churches got involved and the current running total is £31,451 (on 11/10/2023)! To check out the latest numbers, go to The Big Quiz Night Totaliser HERE.
Thank you to everyone who came along to support this event!
‘Mayflower’ Descendants at St John the Baptist
On Sunday 3rd September at St John the Baptist, Great Amwell, a memorial to Richard and Elizabeth Warren was unveiled by the Bishop of Hertford, the Rt Rev’d Dr Jane Mainwaring.
Richard and Elizabeth were married in the church in 1610, and Richard was one of the Pilgrim Fathers who left Plymouth on the ‘Mayflower’ in 1620. Elizabeth and her five daughters followed him to the New World three years later.
The memorial plaque was sponsored by The Warren Cousins from America, fifteen of whom were present at the ceremony, including their president Marty Beerman and his wife Jane.
The service was conducted by Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest, assisted by Benefice Reader, Lynne Griffiths. It was a lovely service, followed by refreshments, and everyone who attended felt it was a very special event.
Written by Richard Mellor
Photographs:
(1) Rt Rev’d Dr Jane Mainwaring with Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest and Benefice Reader Lynne Griffiths
(2) The service
(3) The Bishop of Hertford, assisted by Benefice Reader, Lynne Griffiths before the unveiling
(4) Richard Pickering in 17th Century costume, with the unveiled plaque
(5) The Warren Cousins
(6) Jane & Marty Beerman, with the Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest and Churchwardens Margaret & Richard Mellor