It has been brought to our attention that Fr Alexander Johnston, who was a teacher at Bishop’s Stortford College and who also worked as a non-stipendiary minister in this area, including at All Saints' Hockerill in the 1980s and 90s, and with the Benefice of High Wych, Gilston and Eastwick during the year of 1995 and 1996 has recently been convicted of holding indecent images of children from that era of his life. A link to the story in the local newspaper may be found here: https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/jail-sentence-for-former-bishop-s-stortford-college-teacher-9450623/ Mr Johnstone has been living in Cornwall for the past 25 years. However, if you have any concerns from that time or anyone you are aware of being harmed at that time, then we ask that you please contact Jez at the St Albans Diocesan Safeguarding Team (01727 818107) or our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Cath Sharples <cathsharples@aol.com> or Tel 01279 600996. Please be assured that you will be listened to and that your concerns or information will be taken seriously. Alternatively, you may wish to contact Safe Spaces (https://safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/) which is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales, or the Church in Wales. We at St James, St Mary’s and St Botolph’s appreciate that this news may be unsettling but would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that the safeguarding measures we have in place today are robust. However, if you would like general support, do feel free to contact Revd Alison Jackson on revajacksonhwge@outlook.com or Tel 0783 366 7707 or landline 01279 790145. In the meantime, the thoughts and prayers of our church community are with all those involved in this case and with those who may be affected by this news. Your Priest Revd Alison Jackson
Dear FriendsAs always, I attach the Welcome sheet and the readings for Sunday.Sadly, I am also attaching a Safeguarding Announcement as requested by the safeguarding team from the Diocese of St Albans. This will also be read out in both services across the Benefice on Sunday. My hope is that this will not affect you personally, or act as a trigger point for something that has happened in your past, but I am also aware that it may do. Please know that Cath and I will support any of you who may feel they need support through this process. Rest assured my door will always be open for anyone who needs to talk about this further.We will be having two services this Sunday:-9.30 am Communion service at St James, High Wych11.15 am Communion service at St Mary’s, GilstonIf I don’t see you at our party, I hope I will see you at one of these services. Don’t forget you are all invited to our party – 7.00 pm onwards at The Rectory – Saturday 7th February.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsCan you believe that we are already entering February and fast on that is the beginning of Lent?I attach the Welcome sheet with all the information you will need to keep up-to-date with the life of the churches in our Benefice.I am pulling together a team of people who could help to deliver a really great couple of hours for families in February half-term as it happens to be Shrove Tuesday. If you are available and interested, please let me know so that we can have a brilliant team for the action packed 2 hours, fuelled by pancakes and sugar…sugar….sugar (no doubt).This Sunday we have our early morning BCP (spoken word) Communion service at 8.00 am at St James, High Wych.At 9.30 am we gather to eat a tasty breakfast together before we start our Family Service at 10.00 am, also at St James, High Wych. Everyone is welcome to this service including the families who also attend our family service at St Botolph’s. The content is different so that your children have different things to do and a different story to engage with.I hope I get to see you again at one of these services or at our party.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsI don’t know about you but I feel like we are already galloping into Easter. Lots of plans are coming together which I will be able to give you more information about next week. However, we still have things happening in January that you may want to do. Please look at Forthcoming Events on the Welcome sheet for more details.This Sunday we have two services:-9.30 am Communion Service at St James, High Wych; and11.15 am The Family Service at St Botolph’s, Eastwick.I hope to see you over the weekend.Every blessing Alison
