Experience Easter
On Wednesday 23rd April 2025, all classes from Reception to Year 6 came from St John the Baptist CE VA Primary School to St John the Baptist Church to ‘Experience Easter’.
It was a really lovely event that took place outside. There were five stations: the children visited the church and thought about the Last Supper; then they went out to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was betrayed; next they went to the courtyard where Peter denied Jesus three times; then they went to Golgotha and the cross; and finally onto the garden tomb to discover it was empty and to think about Jesus’s Resurrection.
Alice and Ralphy wrote this brilliant report about their visit:
‘On Wednesday 23rd April, classes from Reception to Year 6 went to the church and learnt about the Easter story. First, we learnt about how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday. Next, we went to the camp fire where Peter claimed he didn’t know Jesus and we all burnt sticks in place of our sins. Inside the church, we thought about the last supper. Shortly after, we went and tied ribbons to the trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. At the next station, we went to the crucifix and were told that one of the thieves at the side of Jesus begged for forgiveness whilst the other thief mocked him. We were given palm crosses to help us remember Jesus’ death. We next went to the empty tomb, which had nothing but Jesus’ grave clothes in and we planted forget-me-not seeds, so we can watch them grow through the years.’
Thanks go to the school for organising the children to come along. Thanks also go the church team for setting everything up before Easter and for helping to make the experience come alive for the children on the day.
The Bishop of St Albans’ Visit
Bishop Alan, the Rt Rev’d the Lord Bishop of St Albans, who has been visiting all the churches in the diocese over the time of his episcopacy, came to St John the Baptist, Great Amwell on Sunday 19th January to lead and preach at the 9am Eucharist Service.
It was wonderful to celebrate Communion with Bishop Alan in our beautiful church, with the church family and the wider community. He even got involved with some bell-ringing, which has been a passion since he was a teenager. As many of you will know, we have a historic set of six bells (with the earliest dating from sixteenth century, called ‘Come all ye faithful’) all hung with wheels so they can be rung full circle.
Churchwarden, Richard Mellor said, ‘The Bishop’s visit to St John’s was welcomed by the congregation. He gave an amusing yet powerful sermon and he left us with much to consider. He joined us for refreshments after the service and chatted to everyone, who enjoyed the opportunity to meet him and talk to him.’
Rev’d Sarah said, ‘It was a joy to have Bishop Alan visit us in these last few months of before his retirement, and to receive a handwritten note from him following his visit in which he expressed a real pleasure at being with us. Please remember Bishop Aan in your prayers as he prepares for retirement.’
News from St John the Baptist
South African Braii
In August, in the lovely summer sunshine, we had a South African braai in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, organised kindly by parishioners Graeme and Paola McSorley. We enjoyed boerewors followed by melktert, washed down with fabulous South African wine.
Visitors come to St John the Baptist
St John’s church has been blessed this year with visitors from overseas. Recently, we have had visitors from America, who can trace
their ancestry to Richard and Elizabeth Warren who were married in the church in 1610. Richard being one of the Pilgrim Fathers on Mayflower 10 years later.
In September, came Sue and Tom Dietrich from Arizona, followed on 3rd October by well-known authoress Jodie Picoult and her husband, Tim Warren Van Leer from New Hampshire. On the same day, Eric Nye, a visiting professor at Cambridge and related to the Warrens, joined us. It was great to welcome them to St John’s and show them round the church and the churchyard.
Back: Martin Vaughan, Margaret Mellor and Sue Vaughan
Remembrance Sunday 2023
We held two outside services in honour of Remembrance Sunday on 12th November: one at the War Memorial at St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots and another at the Amwell Lane War Memorial, Great Amwell.
These were poignant services. As we all stood together, young and old, we remembered those who have suffered far greater hardships than a bit of rain: those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live in freedom and peace.
At St Andrew’s, we had a thought-provoking address by General Sir Nicholas Carter about the nature of service in the armed forces. To quote just one of the important points he made:
‘My generation has been privileged to grow up with veterans who understood the horrors of war, but as each year passes, we lose these veterans, and as they depart the coming generation is not touched so personally by the memory of war. Our challenge in this unstable world is to make sure that this new generation understands that the nature of war never changes – it is always violent, it always causes great suffering, and its first casualty is always the truth. And that is why Remembrance must never be a moment to glorify war, it must be a moment to remember why it must be avoided at all costs.’
Thanks go to the General for taking the time to come and share with us. He was very impressed by the turn out, especially of our youth groups.
It was a great moment of community spirit and we thank everyone involved in the services or who came along to pay their respects.
‘We will remember them’
‘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