I don’t know very much about sheep but they strike me as independent creatures that will wander where they will, which I suppose is why sheep-dog trials are so entertaining to watch. Ideas about the relationship between sheep and shepherds are foundational for Christianity, although since few of us are shepherds these days the metaphors aren’t perhaps as immediate as they once were. I once attended a diocesan summer event at which the metaphor was put to the test. Our bishops, crooks in hand, set out to race 100 yards each leading a sheep. The sheep had no interest in where the bishops wanted them to go. I can’t recall which bishop claimed to have won, but the sheep clearly felt the whole exercise was below their dignity and at least two declined even to reach the finishing line.

This Sunday the Lectionary gives us Psalm 23.  – The Lord is my shepherd. This lovely short psalm opens with “The Lord is my shepherd” and it concludes with “The Lord’s House”. The middle of the psalm refers to the Lord as “you”. God is at the beginning, the end and middle of the psalm, and of our faith. It’s intimate and personal – the psalm speaks about “I” and “me”, a unique part of God’s creation. But also, God enfolds all his people – we are all members of his flock. This psalm speaks to our personal journeys in faith, and to the journey of the whole people of God. Psalm 23 captures the essence of the Good Shepherd who is Jesus. And we, of course, are his sheep. I know of services when Psalm 23 has been used as the creed, that seems to me wholly appropriate, if unusual.

Picasso, “Man with a Lamb” (or “Man with Sheep”) Modelled 1943; cast in bronze 1948-50

Pablo Picasso made a sculpture known as “Man with Sheep” while he was living in Nazi-occupied Paris. He said he intended no particular symbolism or message, but in 1950 he gave a version of the statue to the city of Vallauris in southern France. In the central square, the austere man gripping the struggling lamb has become a memorial to wartime sacrifices at the height of the fight against fascism. It’s easy to see this as a statement of hope and determination and faith, particularly for Christians. However, it can be seen in two ways. Is the lamb being saved, or is it being sacrificed? But the ideas of salvation and sacrifice are never far apart in the Christian life. Jesus, the Good Sheperd who we also call the Lamb of God, made the ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of us all. Many disciples have sacrificed much for the salvation of others.

Yours ever,
Richard

Petertide (still) needs YOU!

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered last Sunday to help at our Petertide Fair on Sunday 28 June. It's not too late to volunteer! Maybe you can help running a stall, leading an activity, or help with setting up? The more people that take part, the easier the task.

Volunteer forms will be given out at our 9:30 morning worship this Sunday. Hilary Armstrong will be hovering at the end of the service to receive your form, or to chat about ways you can help. You can also fill in an online form now:

Petertide can be a really fun summer event when the whole church and town community gets together. All proceeds from this year's fair will go to the St Peter's Renovation Appeal, supporting our continuing roof repair work. Many hands make light work - will they be YOUR hands?

Contact:

Hilary Armstrong   

 Contact Hilary Armstrong

 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk

Friday 1 May at 6:15 am
May Day Madrigals

We greet the spring by singing madrigals from the tower of St Peter's on the morning of May Day. After the tower singing, more madrigals will be sung on the churchyard lawn around 6:40am (for those who prefer not to clamber up the tower steps!).

Everyone is invited to come and listen - just turn up in the churchyard bright and early! Bacon rolls and croissants will be served in the Court House afterwards.

If you would like to join the singers, please speak to Adrian Davis - you'll need a silly hat and a copy of the Oxford Book of English Madrigals. 

May Day Madrigals

Contact:

Adrian Davis   

 Contact Adrian Davis

Saturday 2 May
St Peter’s goes to market!

One of the outcomes of our recent Mission Action Plan consultation was that many felt we should be more active in our outreach to the community. We have a glorious building with so many wonderful events throughout the year, but perhaps waiting for the public to come to us, we need to think about going out to meet people and extend our welcome. With this in mind, we are going to hold a St Peter's market stall on the High Street market on Saturday 2 May 8am-1pm. We plan to meet people out in the town, hand out leaflets and promote our year-round activities and welcome for families. We'll also be advertising June's Petertide Fair. It will be an opportunity to chat to shoppers - we won't be forcing beliefs on people, but assuring them that our doors are open to all, whatever their faith. Carolynne will be drawing up a rota, so volunteers will only do a 1-hour stint. Can you help us to raise the profile of St Peter's on the market? Get in touch!

Contact:

Carolynne Charman    07503 156 751

 Contact Carolynne Charman

Saturday 9 May at 7:00 pm
Lasagne Evening

There will be another fundraising lasagne evening in the Court House, raising money for the St Peter's Renovation Appeal. The last event was such an enjoyable evening with good food and good company, so do please support this evening. We have a lot of hidden talent for la Cucina Italiana in the parish, so if you can contribute a lasagne or a desert, please contact:

Contact:

Carolynne Charman    07503 156 751

 Contact Carolynne Charman

Sunday 10 May at 6:00 pm
Choral Evensong

All are welcome at our next choral evensong, when our choir will lead our worship with sung responses, Psalms and an anthem. Music TBA.

The music list for our morning worship is available at:

 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk

Saturday 16 May
RSCM Festival Service, St Paul’s Cathedral

The Royal School of Church Music is holding a choral evensong at St Paul's Cathedral in London. This special event offers singers opportunity to sing under Chrstopher Wren's magnificent dome, celebrating the joy of church music and the work of the RSCM. Singers will be directed by Andrew Carwood, Director of Music at St Paul's. To participate, book your space online - RSCM Members £15, non-members £20, accompanied under-18s £5. St Peter's Church Choir members qualify for the RSCM members' rate - speak to Geoff Povey in the choir if you wish to attend.

 www.rscm.org.uk

SS Wesley 150th

Last Sunday was the 150th anniversary of the death of the composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley, who died on 19 April 1876. Samuel Sebastian was the grandson of one of the founders of Methodism, Charles Wesley. He became one of Britain's leading organists and choirmasters, serving at Hereford, Winchester and Gloucester Cathedrals. Church choirs still sing his music today, such as his popular anthems The Wilderness and Wash me throughly. On Easter Day this year, our choir here at St Peter's Berkhamsted sang his rousing Eastertide anthem, Blessed be the God and Father. Let us give thanks for church musicians through history who enrich our worship today.

Video:

APCM – Results of Elections

Thank you to all who attended last Sunday's APCM. Inspection copies of the Annual Report and Accounts are available in church. You can also to download them here and from the church website. 

Results of Elections

Parish of ST PETER'S, GREAT BERKHAMSTED
Deanery of BERKHAMSTED

At the Annual Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Parochial Church Meeting of the above parish held on 19 April 2026, the following were elected as Churchwardens:
CAROLYNNE CHARMAN
PETER MCMUNN

The following were elected as Lay Members of the Deanery Synod:
CAROLE DELL
SUSAN HOLMES

The following were elected as Lay Members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC):
HILARY ELLIOTT
CHARLOTTE ROBINSON
SAMANTHA DESBIENS

Annual Report 2025

Accounts & Financial Statement 2025

Victoria School news

We had a quieter week at school, but have been enjoying the Spring sunshine. The children have had lots of opportunities to be outside and explore their learning in different ways. The Reception children have been making the most of their new outdoor space, building obstacle courses and even a gym! Nursery did not want to miss out on the fun and made their own obstacle course, where they were practising their positional language.

During worship we looked at the story of the Road to Emmaus. We started by thinking about gifts that we have received and how we felt on receiving them. We then explored how their feeling might change if they discovered the gift was damaged or broken. This lead to us talking about how Jesus was a gift to the world and in the story, the men were sad about the death of Jesus (linking to the idea of the broken gift) but once they saw who was travelling with them, this filled them with hope again. The children enjoyed exploring the story and they were going to make sure that even when things go wrong, they would be hopeful.

Mrs Lisa Freeman
Head of School, Victoria CE Infant and Nursery School

St George

Yesterday was the Feast of George, Saint, Martyr, and Patron of England (d.c.304). Happy St George's Day! From early times the Christian Church has set aside Holy Days throughout the year to remember individuals whose lives most clearly demonstrate God's power to transform human lives. In the church calendar on 23 April, we remember George, a 2nd-century Cappadocian or Palestinian who served in the Roman army in Lydda, Palestine who was among many people martyred during the brutal suppression of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. On our tower at St Peter's, we fly the flag of the Diocese of St Abans, with the heraldic arms of the Diocese over the red Cross of St George.

God of hosts,
who so kindled the flame of love
in the heart of your servant George
that he bore witness to the risen Lord
by his life and by his death:
give us the same faith and power of love
that we who rejoice in his triumphs
may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

A group of Church of England bishops from across the country said in a joint statement issued earlier this year, that the cross of St George, the flag of England, should be celebrated as a symbol of unity in our nation, rooted in our Christian heritage. They urge people to embrace or rediscover our Christian heritage but also call for a fresh recognition of the meaning of the cross as the symbol of God's love for everyone.
Read more: www.churchofengland.org

Learn more about the life of St George:

 en.wikipedia.org

Saturday 25 April at 12:00 pm
Northchurch St George’s Day celebration

Our friends at St Mary's Northchurch are once again hosting a St George's Day celebration in the grounds of the Northchurch Rectory 12 noon-3pm. The afternoon will include crafts, face painting, fun and games for children, and music, barbecue and bar for adults. All welcome - free entry.

Saturday 25 April at 7:00 pm
Mozart’s Magic Flute

Mozart's joyous opera Die Zauberflöte is being screened at the Vyne Theatre Berkhamsted from the Royal Opera House. The fantastical tale of monsters, a handsome prince and a magic birdcatcher features some of opera's most popular tunes. Tickets £18, children £12, available from:

Contact:

Vyne Theatre Box Office    0333 666 3366

 Contact Vyne Theatre Box Office

 www.ticketsource.co.uk

Saturday 25 April at 7:30 pm
Ein Deutsches Requiem

Berkhamsted Choral Society with English Philharmonia will perform Johannes Brahms' German Requiem in St Peter's Church, one of the most beautiful and spiritual works of the 19th century. Drawing on a range of texts from the German Lutheran bible that focus on spiritual healing, it was written to give comfort to the living rather than serve as a prayer for the dead. The programme will also include Mozart's Serenade no. 6 in D major Serenata notturna.

 berkhamstedchoral.com

Sunday 3 May at 2:30 pm
Sarah Garrett organ recitals

The first of this year's Sarah Garrett Recital Series at All Saints' Church will be given by William Fox who is the organist and director of music at St Albans Cathedral. Refreshments will be available at the interval. Entry is free no booking is required, and there will be a retiring collection to support the series and the church fund.

All Saints' Church, Shrublands Road

 www.allsaintsberkhamsted.org.uk

Sunday 3 May at 4:00 pm
A Song of Summer

Behind the Mirror are at Berkhamsted Town Hall, presenting a celebration of English music old and new for cello and harp. The programme will feature a mix of music inspired by folk traditions, including works by Delius, Vaughan Williams, Walton and Purcell. Eleanor Turner (harp) and Clare O'Connell (cello). Tickets: £25 U18 free.

 www.behindthemirror.org

Thursday 7 May at 7:00 pm
Gardeners’ Question Time

Berkhamsted Citizens' Association invite all Berkhamsted's green-fingered residents to a Gardeners' Question Time at the Town Hall. Bring your questions and quiz a panel of knowledgeable experts - Zora Tyrone (head gardener of Ashridge), Lisa Hardinge (March Hare Garden Design), Paul Cramp (Amberley Garden Services), Anne Foster and Pam Ferguson. The event will also include artworks, demonstrations and a plant sale. Entry £5, all proceeds to the Castle Fields Appeal, saving the historic fields next to Berkhamsted Castle.

 www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk

Saturday 9 May at 3:00 pm
Musical & Literary Arts Fundraiser

Berkhamsted Citizens' Association are holding an afternoon of music and readings at the Great Hall, Berkhamsted Town Hall. Madalina (soprano) and guests, accompanied on piano by Bertha Kum (Castle Choir music director). Tickets £10, in aid of Berkhamsted Castle Trust's Save Castle Fields appeal.

 www.berkhamstedcastle.org.uk

Thursday 14 May at 2:00 pm
1000 Years of Berkhamsted’s History

Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society (BLHMS) are holding an afternoon talk at Berkhamsted Library: A Gentle Stroll Through 1000 Years of Berkhamsted's History Come and delve into the rich history of Berkhamsted across the last millennium. All proceeds go to supporting Berkhamsted library. Pop into the library to get a ticket.

Friday 5 June - Sunday 14 June
Great Big Green Week 2026

Berkhamsted will be holding another Great Big Green Week, with events all over town - walks, talks, family activities, quizzes and gardening events. On Saturday 6 June there will be the popular Berkhamsted Eco Fair in the Civic Centre.

eco fair

green week

Wallaby sighting

A wild wallaby sighted hopping along the lanes around Berkhamsted has made national headlines this week. It's thought to be part of a small feral diaspora population that originated after animals escaped from Whipsnade Zoo some years ago. Read more:

 www.facebook.com

 www.hertsad.co.uk