| Volume 16 No. 35 | Friday 24 July 2026 |
Church news & notices Tuesday 28 July at 11:30 am
John Malcolm’s funeral John Malcolm's funeral will take place St Lawrence's Church in Nettleden. John sadly passed away at Stoke Mandeville Hospital on Saturday 20th June, aged 89 years. He will be dearly missed by his daughters Hilary and Jessica and sons Simon, David and Edward, and his grandsons, as well as by his many friends in the local area. The family have asked for no flowers, but everyone is invited to make a donation in John's memory to the Alzheimers Society - there is a Donation button on the funeral directors' website at the link below:
| Sunday 9 August at 1:00 pm
Parish BBQ!Come and join us for the annual Parish Barbecue at 1pm on Sunday 9th August. Please bring a salad or pudding to share and we will provide the sausages and ketchup for a modest £3.50 a head, payable on the day (under-18s free). Glasses will be provided but bring your own drinks. We will be outside if the weather is dry, and in the Court House if wet. Please email Rachel if you would like to come, and say what you are bringing, and any dietary requirements we need to be aware of. The deadline for signing up is FRIDAY 31st JULY so we have time to order the sausages. |
Schools news School leavers   Once again the end-of-year services have come around, and pupils and families of Thomas Coram, Victoria and Berkhamsted schools have been gathering in St Peter's to give thanks and pray about the future. A prayer of school leavers: Living God, today with thankfulness
we celebrate our time at school.
May we always respect and cherish
the ways in which we've grown at this school.
As we prepare to begin a new chapter in our lives,
bless us with the resilience to move forwards in hope.
Above all, may we always carry in our hearts
the kindness we've been shown
and the kindness that we've shared,
so that throughout our lives we may be people
who are always striving to flourish in learning and love.
Amen
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The Castle Federation is the governing body responsible for our two Church of England schools in Berkhamsted
 www.castlefederation.org
More about our schools:
 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/about/schools
 Diocesan news
Sunday 26 July
Harpenden EvensongA little further afield, St Nicholas Church in Harpenden invite all singers to a Come and Sing Evensong. 4:30pm rehearsal for a 6:30pm service. Friends and family are welcome to attend the service. If you want to take part, please send them an email so they know to expect you. Music to include: God be in my head - Walford-Davies
Smith Responses
Canticles: Stanford in C
O Thou the Central Orb - Wood Contact:St Nicholas Harpenden | General Synod Election BulletinThis year sees the election of new clergy and lay members to General Synod to be part of the senior governing body of the Church of England for the five-year period 2026 - 2031. Five members of clergy and five members of laity will be selected from the Diocese of St Albans and elections will take place in September and October. The Diocese has issued information to encourage participation from parishes, available at the link below: |  | The Parish of Great Berkhamsted is in the Church of England's Diocese of St Albans |
 www.stalbansdiocese.org
St Albans Cathedral:
www.stalbanscathedral.org
 Church noticeboard
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Berkhamsted community news & events Saturday 25 July
Hans Zimmer concertHans Zimmer is one of Hollywood's most celebrated composers - he wrote the scores for Gladiator, Kung Fu Panda, Interstellar, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean and many other films. Enjoy a candlelit performance of his music here in St Peter's - tickets are on sale now. Book one of two performances: 7-8pm or 9-10pm. | Monday 3 August
Meet your MPVictoria Collins, our local MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, is running a "Summer Tour" during Parliament's summer recess. She'll be, visiting towns and villages across the constituency to meet residents, charities, businesses, and community groups. The Berkhamsted event is on 3 August (venue to be announced). If you'd like to raise a local or national issue, share an idea or simply want to say hello, book your spot on Eventbrite, and you'll get a confirmation email nearer the time: | Friday 7 August
The Simon & Garfunkel StoryThis acclaimed West End show comes to Berkhamsted School's Centenary Theatre, telling the story of the origins and meteoric rise of the pop-folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. The show combines projected original film footage blended with a live band performing all the hits including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and many more. Tickets £31 + booking fee from: | The Art ShedThe Art Shed is a new, non-profit community creative studio in the heart of Berkhamsted. They're running summer holiday art classes for adults and children, including pottery painting, clay building, and baby hand and footprint making, with very low ticket prices. Park Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 1HX. find out more: | New unitary authorities in HertfordshireThe governmental announcement about local authority changes came just too late for last week's Parish News email, but in case you haven't heard: both Hertfordshire County Council and Dacorum Borough Council are to be abolished. Hertfordshire will instead be divided up into four new unitary authorities. For Berkhamsted, this means that Dacorum will be merged with the City of St Albans to form North West Hertfordshire. The authorities will be: - North West Hertfordshire - merger of Dacorum and St Albans
- South West Hertfordshire - merger of Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford
- Central Hertfordshire - merger of North Herts with Stevenage, Welwyn and Hatfield
- Eastern Hertfordshire - merger of Broxbourne and East Herts, with a few extra bits added from neighbouring boroughs
Elections to the new "shadow" authorities will take place in May 2027, and they will officially take over on 1 April 2028. Read more: | Berkhamsted in BloomWe are so fortunate to have a glorious garden along the High Street side of St Peter's. The roses, shrubs, perennials etc are lovingly tended by Sarah Dawson and her team of green-fingered volunteers. Last week, judges came all the way from Kings Lynn in Norfolk to inspect several gardens around Berkhamsted for the UK-wide Britain in Bloom contest, organised by the Royal Horticulrual Society. The finalists will be announced later in the year. Here they are at St Peter's Church and in our cemetery on Rectory Lane. 
| The Berkhamsted Walk updateThe Berkhamsted Walk had a record turnout this year (420 walkers) and raised a record amount - over £7000 - for the Children's Society! The event also supported 2 other causes - Thunderdell Explorer Scouts (14-17 year olds) and the Blue Tangerine Cafe, supporting older children with learning difficulties. Well done to everyone who took part or sponsored walkers. | Antisocial behaviour Hertfordshire Police recently held ASB Awareness Week (29 June - 5 July), to raise awareness about tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in communities. Reports often rise in the summer months as more people spend time outdoors, and the police encourage anyone who witnesses ASB to report it.
ASB can have a real impact on individuals and communities, and can include inconsiderate use of vehicles (cars, motorbikes, cycles, scooters), rowdy behaviour, litter, drug use, nuisance noise or trespassing. There's information about ASB on the police website. If you've been affected by ASB, you can report it online, or speak to the police on the non-emergency number 101.
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Cartoon Church This week's cartoon courtesy of CartoonChurch
Copyright © 2026 Dave Walker
  | Worship with usThis Sunday: 26 July 2026
8th Sunday after Trinity |
9:30am Sung Eucharist
You are invited to join us at our main Sunday service
Next Sunday: 2 August 2026
9th Sunday after TrinityMusic this weekHymns: | Anthem: | Lord, I trust Thee. G.F. Handel | | Voluntary: | The Liberty Bell - John Philip Sousa |
Readings1 Kings 3.5-12At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. Psalm 121 (vv. 1-8)1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?2 My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.3 He will not suffer your foot to stumble; he who watches over you will not sleep.4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.5 The Lord himself watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand,6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, neither the moon by night.7 The Lord shall keep you from all evil; it is he who shall keep your soul.8 The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore. Gospel: Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’ ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
 In our prayers this weekAnglican Cycle of Prayer:The Anglican Church of TanzaniaIntercessions | Diocese | ✚✚Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury, ✚Andrew, Bishop Designate of St Albans, ✚ Jane, Bishop of Hertford, and Charles, Archdeacon of St Albans | In our
continuing prayers | Mary Beard, Christina Billington, Stacy Giles, Yvonne Hart, Judith Hill, Ghullam Mutaheri, Frozan Mutaheri, Ken Organ, Fr Chris Rogers, Neata Thomson, Clare Wallington, Liz Wright | In our
immediate prayers | Patricia Cody, Graeme Davis, Mark Few, Barbara Fisher, Peter Kirk, Gwen Roberts, Peter Rolfe, Charlotte Szypryt, Barbara McKenna, Sienna Vallance | Weddings
(next four weeks) | | Wedding banns
called this Sunday | | Baptisms
(next four weeks) | | | RIP | John Malcolm, Nola Frost | | Memorial (year's mind) | | ☩ Funeral noticesFriday 31 July10:30am: Funeral of Christopher Russell
Tuesday 11 August12:00pm: Funeral of Israel Butler
 RotasWe are ever thankful for our team of dedicated clergy and volunteers who support our collective worship every week. If you are new to St Peter's, we encourage you to get involved in our parish life. Listed below are rotas for this coming Sunday and the week after. You can check future rota dates on the parish website at www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/rotas Sunday 26 July 2026 - Trinity 8| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Helen | | Reader | Mike H. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Margaret (Fr Stuart) ((Helen)) | | Preacher | Helen | | Sidesperson | Uli G. | | Sidesperson | Helen P. | | MC | Will G. | | Acolyte | Peter M. | | Acolyte | Chris C. | | Thurifer | Emma G. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Hilary E. | | Intercessions | Helen R. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Kate H. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Pru M. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Julian D. | | Friday Thought | |
Sunday 2 August 2026 - Trinity 9| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Fr Stuart | | Reader | Tracy R. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart (Margaret) | | Preacher | Fr Stuart | | Sidesperson | Judy C. | | Sidesperson | Chris C. | | MC | Will G. | | Acolyte | Libby G. | | Acolyte | Chris C. | | Thurifer | Emma G. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Geoff P. | | Intercessions | Joseph C. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Carole D. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Uli G. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Christopher G. | | Friday Thought | |
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