The Revd Writes… ‘O Lord, our Governor…’ (Psalm 8) We are blessed across the Benefice to have three primary schools, Ardeley St Lawrence, Benington and Walkern Primary. Each of our schools offers a well-rounded education for all children, whatever their ability or need, and is often sought out by parents, beyond the catchment area, who want their children to benefit from a smaller setting with a more ‘family feel’ than the larger urban schools can offer. All three schools have a close relationship with their parish church; Ardeley and Benington have a Church of England foundation. Unlike other denominational schools, Church of England schools, which comprise a quarter of all primary schools in England, do not specifically aim to attract new adherents to the Christian faith. For those unfamiliar with the Church of England’s approach to education, it is worth spelling this out more clearly. Since Victorian times, and before, as the established church, the Church of England’s concern has been to play its part in helping to educate all children, whatever their social background or creed. Education is recognised as being fundamental in helping all children to flourish so that they can mature into being the best adults that they can be. It is this sole motivation that puts church schools at the forefront of the Church’s agenda. Children of all faiths, and none, are welcome to attend a C of E school. All schools are a partnership of stakeholders, children, parents, staff and the wider community. The local school is often a place in which village identity is affirmed and celebrated. The need for a space where people can come together and bonds of social cohesion can form is often focused on the village school. An example of this is meeting up at the school gate, an opportunity for adult interaction and for some, a lifeline. Villages where schools have closed lose not just a centre of learning, they lose much of the cross-generational heartbeat that lends itself to a vibrancy of life-giving energy. Like the pub and the church, a school must not be taken for granted. All stakeholders have a part to play. A specific role which enables a school to rise to the challenge of helping children to thrive is that of a School Governor. School Governors are volunteers who commit themselves to ensuring that a school stays on track with quality teaching and learning, balances its budget and evolves an ethos which is both inclusive and aspirational. The role does require time and a skill set that understands the importance of best practice. Above all, it offers an opportunity to positively impact the future of children and the contribution they will make in years to come. Feel up for the challenge? Talk to one of our headteachers. They’d love to hear from you! God Bless
The Revd Writes… “Let all the world in every corner sing…” It has been a delight in these past months to listen to a song thrush who perches himself, most evenings, atop a very tall conifer in my garden, before giving the sweetest performance for all to hear. Wikipedia tells me an “individual male may have a repertoire of more than 100 phrases; many copied from its parents and neighbouring birds. Mimicry may include the imitation of man-made items like telephones, and the song thrush will also repeat the calls of captive birds, including exotics such as the white-faced whistling duck.” I have never seen a white-faced whistling duck in my pond, but apparently, I may have heard one from atop the conifer! Bird song is good for the soul. At the end of the day, I find there is nothing more able to connect me with the natural world around me than the harmony of the quitquiqit of the master soloist. I sit and listen until he has finished all thirty verses of his hymn. Music and spiritual songs have always been the go-to for humanity when struggling to adequately capture the mood in words, particularly so at moments of need. How to make sense of a situation or feeling when everyday words fail? The poetry of the musician and lyrics of the wordsmith blend to release the anguish and ecstasy, helping to make sense of who and where we are in relation to ourselves. I am sad and heartbroken. I am tired and exhausted. I am frightened and know not what to do. I am in love and drunk on romance. Music and song come to my aid, comfort me, and liberate me to find words of my own. Glastonbury celebrates this truth as much as Westminster Abbey. Singing is good for us. Those who sing in a band or choir benefit directly from using the words and tunes of others to find a rhythm that resonates for themselves. Human tastes know no bounds as we are all drawn to affirm our own identities in different styles and cultures of music. What is common is being able to find a song that ‘works’ for you. Why do you like this song and I another? What matters more is that we both find songs that, though different, lift our souls to an inspiring place, cause us to reflect and, in our own words, help us to put life into context. We are blessed that in our own Churches, both traditional choral music and less formal worship songs and music have a strong place at the heart of our worship. The 17th-century poet, George Herbert, famously called on ‘all the world’ to sing. It is today one of the more popular hymns and with good reason, as the song thrush reminds me in my garden. God Bless Mark
CHURCH OF ENGLANDSt Lawrence, Ardeley; St Peter’s, Benington; St John the Baptist, Cottered; Holy Trinity, Throcking and St Mary’s, WalkernChurch Services: September 2025Sunday 7th Trinity 129.30am Holy Communion St Lawrence, Ardeley9.30am Patronal Holy Communion St Mary’s, Walkern11.00am Morning Prayer St Peter’s, Benington11.00am Holy Communion St John the Baptist, CotteredSunday 14th Trinity 139.30am Holy Communion St Lawrence, Ardeley9.30am Holy Communion St Mary’s, Walkern11.00am Holy Communion St John the Baptist, CotteredSunday 21st Trinity 149.30am Holy Communion St Lawrence, Ardeley9.30am Morning Prayer St Mary’s, Walkern11.00am Holy Communion BCP St Peter’s, Benington11.00am Morning Worship St John the Baptist, CotteredSunday 28th Trinity 159.30am Family Harvest Festival St Lawrence, Ardeley9.30am Holy Communion St Mary’s, Walkern11.00am Holy Communion Holy Trinity, ThrockingCoffee at Ten with Pause for Thought – Walkern Coffee is served every Thursday morning at Walkern United Reformed Church from 10.00am to 11.00am, with an opportunity to hear a five minute ‘Pause for Thought’ at 10.30am – a Christian reflection on a current topic.
I am writing to say Thank You to you, and to everyone who supports the work of our five Churches across the Benefice. The work of the Church is sometimes taken for granted, standing alongside those in the hour of need at bereavement for a loved one recently lost; celebrating the arrival of a new member of the family at a Christening; sharing in the hopes and dreams of a couple pledging themselves to each other in Holy Matrimony. It is easy to assume that the local Church, which has been there for generations, will simply continue to be there. The truth is that the Church continues to be there because local people give generously of their time, energy and money. Without this trinity of giving, the Church would cease to be. So, Thank You in whatever way you lend your support. It is because of you that pastoral care is made available to those in need, our ancient buildings continue to inspire and give sanctuary to many, both near and far, and we, as a ‘Living Church’ are able to be the community hub used and appreciated by those looking for a spiritual home. A special Thank You to everyone who volunteers in whatever capacity to ensure that we can continue to offer worship in all of our Churches. Thank You in particular to those who have committed themselves to serving on our Parochial Church Councils for the next year. We are blessed with a number of hardworking Churchwardens, Treasurers and PCC Secretaries who deal with a myriad of tasks and mountains of paperwork between them. Welcome to Clare Wood, Churchwarden at St Peter’s, Benington and Christopher Evans, who has joined the PCC at St Lawrence’s, Ardeley. Quite rightly, Safeguarding is a top priority for all of our Churches. This year, safeguarding training has become mandatory for all PCC Members. This training is an important step in raising awareness about the different kinds of abuse that, sadly, continue to impact the lives of so many. We are all vulnerable at times - financial scams are but one example of this - so, Thank You to PCC Members for undergoing this training and for helping us all to remain vigilant. Thank You to Beverley Harlow – Parish Safeguarding Officer at St Mary’s, Walkern and to Rachel Hurst, Parish Safeguarding Officer at St Lawrence’s, Ardeley, for taking on these roles. I am the main point of contact for St Peter’s, Benington, Cottered and Throcking Churches, for anyone with a safeguarding concern. A big Thank You to Wendy Waygood, who has stepped back as safeguarding officer at St Lawrence’s after having served in this role for a number of years. Contact details for safeguarding officers are available on our websites and in all Church porches. Welcome to Kim Horton, who steps into the shoes of Heather Ferguson as Benefice Administrator. Kim brings to the role a wealth of business and administration experience, and it is very good to have her on board. Heather has been an outstanding administrator, and we wish her well as she finally, finally retires! On the 16th of June, at St Mary’s, I was licensed as Rector of the Benefice by Bishop Jane, Bishop of Hertford. It was an opportunity for everyone from across the villages to come together. So many people contributed to the occasion, not least musically. Thank You to the Benefice Choir for an amazing rendition of ‘All people that on earth do dwell’, to Mike Stevens for being so masterly at the pipe organ, and to the Three Schools Choir – Ardeley, Benington & Walkern Primary Schools – for warming everyone’s heart with, ‘One and a million’. This was the first time that the schools had worked together, and we hope there will be more opportunities in the future to do so again. One or two folks have asked what the difference is between a priest-in-charge and a rector. Not a lot is the answer! What it does mean is that there are no plans for the foreseeable future for reorganisation, in other words, our five Churches will continue to work as a unit without fear of more churches being added to the Benefice. A relief for everyone! One project that has been brought to fruition in these past six months has been to see Holy Trinity Church at Throcking opened at weekends. The Church was occasionally opened in the past, but very rarely in more recent years. The Church is an ecclesiastical gem with stunning memorials by Joseph Nollekens of Westminster Abbey fame, and is well worth a visit. It is hoped that all of our Churches will be open at weekends in the not-too-distant future. This is dependent upon volunteers willing to open and lock up and keep an occasional eye. This year, two people from the Benefice were Confirmed on Holy Saturday in St Albans Cathedral. Congratulations to Abigal Moffat - Benington Primary School - and Alison Galer-Warren – St Mary’s, Walkern. This was the first year that Confirmation was offered to one of our schools, and it is hoped to repeat this next year. All Year Six children are eligible. This year also saw several parents being Christened with their children. This is a new trend in which adults who weren’t Christened as babies have asked if they could be Christened too. Yes! Just ask. Finances continue to be stretched across all of our Churches. There are three strands of expenditure: day-to-day running costs, e.g. electricity, communion wine, candles; building and churchyard maintenance – this includes everything from architects’ reports, repair to ancient stonework and removal of dead trees; the cost of a vicar – including housing, ongoing training and the running of the Diocese. Neither component in the equation comes cheap, unfortunately. At present, the post of Rector is currently being subsidised by the Diocese – a mix of support from other Churches and Diocesan resources, e.g. glebe and investment income. A big Thank You to all our regular donors who give so generously. If you would like to make a financial contribution to the work of your local Parish Church – either as part of a regular pattern, e.g. £5 a month or make a one-off donation, please be in touch with either me, a Churchwarden or Church Treasurer. Our Parish Churches are here for all of us, and their care and the ministry they provide is a shared responsibility. Thank You. Looking ahead, plans are progressing with the design of oak cabinets for the chapel at St Peter’s, along with works to the drains under the chapel. The quinquennial report by the architect for St Lawrence’s has been received – much to ponder. It is hoped that a brass plaque in memory of Neville Chuck, organist for 70 years at Cottered Church, will soon be in place. And there will be Harvest. And there will be Christmas. Watch this space! If you think the Church can be of any help to you, don’t hesitate to be in touch! God Bless, Mark(Photo: The Licensing of the 'new' Rector with Bishop Jane, Bishop of Hertford and colleagues.) Follow our Churches on Facebook for the latest news and details of events!
