Facilities and features
Accessibility
Toilets, including an accessible toilet, are availabe in the church hall, also known as the Transept.
Baby Changing Facilities are available in the Transept.
The bike rack has enough space for 4 bikes and is located by the large shed located just inside the churchyard to the left of the Hemel Hempstead Road entrance.
Ample parking is available on Hemel Hempstead Road. There are four bays located inside the churchyard for disabled parking.
This is located in the Transept.
There are four bays located inside the churchyard for disabled parking.
This is located just inside the church entrance
A mobile metal ramp can easily be added to help improve access to the church. It has a few steps. Please ask if you need this assistance.
A hearing loop is located both in the church and the transept.
We have large print copies of all our services. Please ask on arrival if this would be helpful
Assistance dogs and their owners are always welcome.
Our Building
We have a number of stained glass windows throughout the building.
St Mary's is open for prayer between 9.30 and dusk each day.
St Mary’s Church, Redbourn is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Redbourn, Hertfordshire. The church dates from the 12th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west tower. The north aisle was added around 1140 and the chancel in 1340. The south aisle was built in the mid 14th century, the south chapel and porch between 1444 and 1455. The clerestory was added around 1478.
The east window was installed in 1886 in memory of Rev. W. Serocold Wade and was designed by Mayer of London and Munic
Music and Worship
Bells have traditionally been rung as a means of communication, both religious and secular.The main object of ringing is to call people to prayer and for the glory of God. At St. Mary’s the bells are rung every Sunday morning from 9 – 9.30 am for the Parish Eucharist and some Sunday evenings from 6 – 6.30 pm for Evensong. Many couples ask for bells to be rung after their wedding and the Vicar usually requests bells for special church services. Sometimes there are visiting bellringers from other churches. Very occasionally, a peal will be rung to mark an important event such as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. This involves about 3 hours of bellringing and is not for the faint-hearted! Bellringers need to practice regularly and this happens at St. Mary’s on Tuesday evenings from 7.45 – 9.15 pm. We are careful to finish ringing practice on time to avoid upsetting people living nearby, especially those with small children. However we should all remember that the church and bells were there long before many of the houses!
We hold regular concerts in the church in a wide variety of styles and genres. See our website or social media pages for up to date information.
The church contains a pipe organ originally dating from 1888 by Forster and Andrews. This was rebuilt in 1932 by Roy Huntingford and in 1961 by Arnold, Williamson and Hyatt. The last restoration was in 2005 by Vincent Woodstock. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[3]
8.00 am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) A quiet communion service, without hymns, taken from the Book of Common Prayer, lasting about 45 mins. There are refreshements afterwards on the first sunday of the month.
12 noon Holy Communion (First Sunday of the month only) A quiet said communion service taken from the Book of Common Prayer, also lasting about 45 mins.
6.30 pm Evensong. Sung by the Choir on the first Sunday of the month, lasts about an hour
St Mary’s Choir is the cornerstone of sung services including the weekly 9.30 Parish Eucharist, and sings a Choral Evensong on the first Sunday of each month, (a blog about history of and background to the music for each Choral Evensong can be found here). The choir sings a wide repertoire, ranging from plainsong to contemporary music.
The Choir currently has around thirty members – men, women, boys and girls – drawn from the congregation of the church and from the wider community. There is a strong social aspect to the choir and new members are always made to feel welcome, whatever their ability. Practices take place on Friday evenings at the church and the choir is led by its director Jonathan Goodchild, who is also the church organist.
From time to time the choir sings at other services, especially over the Christmas and Easter periods, and it occasionally gives concerts and makes guest appearances at Cathedral Evensongs.
Our worship band plays for All-Age Eucharist services on the first Sunday of each month.
Groups, Courses and Activities
Gospellers is for any in year 6 and above. It meets outside of the 9.30 service on every sunday in term time from 4-5.30pm, normally at church. Gospellers is where our Young People have chance to share their faith and question what they believe. Activities range widely so do get in touch!
We have a number of historic brass rubbings.
Come and join us in our relaxed and welcoming small groups, called Spotlight groups. An opportunity to grapple with some of those issues related to our Spiritual and Faith journey which we don’t often have a chance to talk about. Be a part of something great! If you are interested in Spotlight and would like more information please get in touch.
Please contact us for information about our next Summer or Christmas Holiday Club
Redbourn Mothers’ Union meets in St. Mary’s Church Transept on the first Tuesday of every month, except August, from 10 am. to 12 noon . There is a short communion service in the church followed by refreshments and a talk. If you would like to attend a meeting we would be very pleased to meet you.
Teddy Tots is a group for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, (and their grown-ups), on Friday mornings in the Transept at St Mary’s Church, Redbourn. 10.30am – 12.00pm. Don’t forget your teddy!
teddy-1313634_1920Sessions will run as follows:
Toys & play, coffee & cake
Craft activity
Songs & storytime
Teddy Tots is free of charge. Hope to see you there!
Teddy Tots - meets during term time between 10 and 11.30 on a Friday.
Help for Visitors
Guidebooks are available in Church.
St Marys is open 10am to 5pm every day.
Other Features
Donaions welcome for St Albans Foodbank
Our transept is available for hire. Please get in touch for more details.
Our PCC has agreed the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith for use at St Mary's. Please contact the vicar for more information or to arrange a blessing or prayers.