Saturday 5 September
St Peter’s Market Stall

We are running another stall on Berkhamsted High Street Market, and we need some volunteers to help. This will involve chatting to members of the public and telling them what a fabulous place St Peter's is. There will be leaflets to give out, and it will be another opportunity for us to extend a welcome to the wider community and to enhance the church's presence in the town. Some help will be needed first thing in the morning and at lunchtime with setting up/breaking down. You only need to do a 1-hour stint, so it won't take up too much of your Saturday!  Please put your name down for a slot on the signup sheet at the back of church on Sunday. 

Saturday 12 September
Bike ‘n’ Hike 2026

The Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust is holding its annual Bike 'n' Hike event. If you'd like to take part yourself, you plan a challenging but achievable route to visit as many churches as you can, and find sponsors who will donate an amount per church you visit. All the information and resources you'll need are on the BHHCT website.

Our ever-hardy Rector, Fr Stuart, is taking part by walking 50 miles overnight on the Three Bishops Way, leaving Bedford on Friday evening, getting to Hertford on Saturday morning, and skipping into St Albans around Saturday lunchtime for a pint, or two. Do please sponsor Stuart - last year, St Peter's sponsorship total was the highest in the two counties, so let's try to keep that record going!

 bedshertshct.org.uk

Sunday 13 September
Blessing of the Backpacks (and a picnic)

On Sunday 13th September as part of our regular 9.30am Sunday Service we'll be inviting the schoolchildren of the parish to come forward to have their school backpacks/satchels blessed to mark the start of the new school year. All are very welcome to join us.

After the service there will be a picnic at The Rectory (Rectory Lane, HP4 2DH) to which everyone is very welcome (weather permitting!).

You can read more about backpack blessing here:

 www.elydiocese.org

Thursday 17 September at 6:30 pm
A Service of Thanksgiving for Volunteers

From Fr Stuart: Week in and week out, I'm conscious of how dependent I am on the contribution of volunteers to keep St Peter's church going. It's not just St Peter's, across our community and across the country our lives are hugely enriched by the work of volunteers. A 2025 report by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport estimated the financial benefit of volunteering in the UK to be around £25 billion.

At St Peter's we would like to say thank you to all those who make this town a better place to live in through volunteering their time. On Thursday 17th September at 6.30pm we will be holding a short 'Service of Thanksgiving for our Community's Volunteers', and this will be followed by a drinks reception. I hope that many of our St Peter's volunteers will be able to come along to be part of that celebration. To help us with refreshments we'd invite you to complete this Google form to let us know if you'll be joining.

A hive of activity

The parish calendar is fairly quiet over summer, but work has been going on in the background to keep things running. Members of the buildings committee have been working to repair the floor outside the Court House toilets, and to replace fittings in the flower cupboard. Various technical updates are being made to upgrade our wi-fi and CCTV systems. And we've even had the Court House carpets shampooed! Thanks are due to Richard, Tony, Chris, Peter and everyone else who "mucks in" to help with the running of St Peter's.

It's a reminder of the importance of the work that people do for the church. We always welcome new volunteers to help out - whatever your skills, there are always jobs to do, so please speak to our churchwardens Carolynne or Peter if you'd like to get involved.

Catherine Donne tomb

After the first phase of the roof repair works and the cleanup of the Lady Chapel, we've taken out the panel of carpet to reveal the tombstone set in the chapel floor. This marks the burial place of Catherine Donne (d.1733) and her daughter Anne Cowper (d.1737). It appears that Catherine was a relative of the 16th-century poet and priest, John Donne (1572-1631), one of the "metaphysical poets".

Anne was married to Rev John Cowper, the Rector of St Peter's from 1722 to 1756. The tombstone records family tragedy, the six Cowper children who died in infancy and were buried here. Only two of their children survived infancy, one of whom was William Cowper, the noted poet, hymn-writer and anti-slavery campaigner. 

Stop in the Lady Chapel to see this poignant memorial, which links us with a long tradition of England's sacred poets.

BBC Radio 4's Poetry Extra recently included a segment on John Donne, with poetry read by actor Blake Ritson:

 www.bbc.co.uk

Barbara Conway in the Guardian

Obituaries pages in newspapers traditionally describe and celebrate the lives of "the great and good", the famous and infamous. The Guardian runs a column called Other Lives which looks at another type of life that deserves noticing: people less in the public eye, those "unsung heroes", the people we haven't heard of. In July, they published an obituary for someone we have heard of here in Berkhamsted: Barbara Conway. Submitted by her daughter Fiona, the piece traces Barbara's fascinating life and highlights the fact that she served as the first female churchwarden at St Peter's in over 750 years. Read all about it on The Guardian website:

 www.theguardian.com

Pothole update

Rejoice! The potholes outside the Court House have finally been fixed, after months of pestering Hertfordshire County Council. A team of Orangemen were seen at work yesterday hacking out the newly added blobs of tarmac and re-laying the setts. At least this now removes the trip hazard on the way to coffee after church.

Computer for sale!

Need a new computer? We have a nearly-new all-in-one desktop PC looking for a good home, one careful owner. Fully updated to Windows 11, 23-inch screen. Donation £ as you see fit to the St Peter's Renovation Appeal (Roof Fund). Please contact:

Contact:
d790bf7e0541c8311029aa47219c4d54

Richard Hackworth    07740 511 677

 Email Richard Hackworth

Elections to General Synod 2026

Could you be called to represent your church and help shape future decisions in the Church of England? Nominations for the 2026 General Synod elections are now open until 7 September. General Synod plays an important role in the life and direction of the Church of England. Anyone on the parish electoral roll may be eligible to stand for election. Learn more on the Diocesan website:

 www.stalbansdiocese.org

Cathedral tours

St Albans Cathedral are offering tours of the ancient Abbey throughout the summer, including stained-glass tours, tower tours, tours of the carvings and wall paintings, and a Wars of the Roses tour. 

 www.stalbanscathedral.org

Launchpad 2027

The Diocese of St Albans is running a course on youth ministry in spring 2027. Launchpad is for church leaders and offers practical support, encouragement and expert guidance to help parishes take the next steps in youth work. You can register your interest in the course by filling in a short form:

 forms.cloud.microsoft

Sunday 23 August
Sunnyside Allotment Open Day

As part of National Allotments Week, Sunnyside Allotments are holding an open day. Visit the site on Ivy House Lane (near Sunnyside Church) and browse the sale of produce, plants, preserves and garden tools. There will also be refreshments on sale and a charity raffle. Cash preferred! 11:30am-3:30pm.

 www.sunnysideallotments.org.uk

Saturday 5 September - Sunday 27 September
Herts Open Studios

Herts Visual Arts is holding its annual Herts Open Studios event. You are invited to explore studios, meet artists, and discover unique, handmade work right across the county. Here in Berkhamsted, there will be exhibitions at the Civic Centre, Lagley Meadow Hall (opposite Majestic Wine), Hill Farm Barn (Northchurch Common) and Mitzie Green's studio on Meadway, with a wide range of artistic styles and media. All venues are free to visit, there will be works on sale, and everyone is welcome. Visit the HVA website to download a brochure and explore an online map of studios.

 www.hvaf.org.uk

Wednesday 9 September
Neighbourhood Plan Consultation

Berkhamsted Town Council is holding another consultation on its Neighbourhood Plan. This Plan aims to shape improvements to Berkhamsted from now to 2041, looking at issues such as education, leisure facilities, green spaces, transport and congestion, housing and heritage. The Plan is on display in the Civic Centre Foyer 20 July to 15 September, and is available on the Town Council website. BTC will be holding another drop-in event at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 9 September 10 am-12 noon. Once you've read the Plan, you can send your feedback via the online consultation.

 www.berkhamsted-tc.gov.uk

 www.berkhamsted-tc.gov.uk

Saturday 12 September at 7:00 pm
Mozart – Missa Brevis

Berkhamsted and Chorleywood Choral Societies join forces to perform a concert in St Peter's. They'll be singing Mozart's Missa Brevis in D minor, and a selection of choral classics including Zadok the Priest by Handel, Fauré's Cantique de Jean Racine, and Lotti's Crucifixus. Tickets: £22 on the door and £20 in advance, £10 for 18-25-year-olds, and free if you are under 18.  Book now!

 berkhamstedchoral.com

Sunday 13 September
Come and Sing Evensong

Our friends at St John's Harpenden are holding a Come and Sing Evensong, led by local teacher, choir trainer and organist Russell Tucker. Refreshments are provided, and there is an excellent pub right next door to the church! The music will include Brewer in D, Smith Responses, and Haydn's The Heavens are Telling. Rehearsal at 3.30pm, service at 5.00pm (to which all friends and family are warmly invited). The event is free, but please book a space online:

 www.ticketsource.com

Wednesday 23 September at 7:00 pm
The People’s Emergency Briefing

Amid drought, extreme heatwaves and wildfires, come to find out about the science behind climate change in a 50-minute film screened in St Peter's by EcoBerko. The People's Emergency Briefing brings together leading climate experts to explore the impacts of climate change on our lives, with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK. After the film, there will be an open discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally. Free entry, but please book a space online if you can:

 www.tickettailor.com

Friday 2 October - Thursday 22 October
Little Missenden Festival

Looking ahead to October, this gem of cultural life in the Chilterns returns to St John the Baptist Church in Little Missenden, just 7 miles (10km) south of Berkhamsted. There's a varied programme of string quartets, piano recitals, jazz and choral. The line-up includes the Alex Clarke Quintet, the Kleio Quartet, St Martin's Voices, with poetry read by BBC Radio 4's Zeb Soanes and a lecture on the portraits of Jan van Eyck by National Gallery curator Nicholas Flory. Booking opens 24 August.

 little-missenden.org

Saturday 3 October at 7:00 pm
An Audience with Captain John Tye

This year's David Pearce Memorial Lecture will be a talk given by Captain John Tye, one of the few pilots to have flown Concorde for BA. John will explain technical features of Concorde and take us on a virtual flight from Heathrow to New York. There will be a Q&A session and an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of his best-selling book. Tickets are £15 and include a complimentary drink on arrival (£5 for under-18s and students). All ticket holders will also be entitled to a year's membership of the Friends of St Peter's. Centenary Theatre, Kings Road, drinks from 7pm.

This is a fundraising event in partnership with Berkhamsted School and the Friends of St Peter's, in aid of the St Peter's Renovation Appeal (roof fund). Online booking opens soon, or you can secure a ticket by contacting Cathy Imber.

Contact:

Cathy Imber    07909 868 928

 Email Cathy Imber

Friday 9 October
DENS Golf Day

Local homeless charity DENS is inviting golfers of all abilities to take part in its Charity Golf Day at the exclusive Stocks Golf Club in Aldbury. Players will enjoy 18 holes on the championship course, breakfast, a two-course BBQ lunch, competitions and a luxury auction featuring prizes including a golf fourball at The Grove and a Harry Potter Studio Tour family ticket. Funds raised will support DENS' work to prevent and alleviate homelessness, poverty and social exclusion across the community. Tee up and drive change for local people facing crisis!

 www.dens.org.uk

Tuesday 13 October - Saturday 17 October
The Pepper Show 2026

The Pepper Show returns to the DEMBE Theatre in Tring for five nights (plus a matinée) with rock and pop hits across the decades. This hugely popular annual event raises funds for The Pepper Foundation, a local charity that raises vital funds for children's hospice at home care in Bucks & Herts. Tickets are on sale now:

 www.pepper.org.uk

Saturday 31 October at 7:00 pm
The Berkhamsted Ball

Berkhamsted Castle Trust are holding a fundraising Black Tie Berkhamsted Ball at Nash Hall in Berkhamsted Girls' School, Kings Road. Tickets are £75 each and include a welcome drink, a three-course dinner, and live music and dancing with The X Tones. There will also be a Gala Charity Auction with John Bly and Eric Knowles, with the chance to bid on some fabulous items, including a private plane flight, golf sessions and holiday home stays. Bookings for couples or individuals are welcome, or get friends together and book a table of 8! Don't miss this glittering occasion - all proceeds will go to the Castle Fields Appeal, saving a historic battlefield site next to Berkhamsted Castle. Book now: 

 buytickets.at

Sunday 1 November
BerkoFest Book Festival

Back for its seventh year, BerkoFest Book Festival is returning to Berkhamsted Town Hall, with a mix of acclaimed fiction and non-fiction writers, children's authors, comedians and cartoonists in discussions, readings, Q&A sessions and book signings. The event will be hosted by Robin Ince and Nigel Barden, with appearances by Alexei Sayle, Lucia Osbourne-Crowley, Athena Kugblenu, Ellen Jones, Caroline Litman and Ben Jennings. Tickets are now on sale, and usually sell out very quickly, so book now to avoid disappointment!

 tickets.matterpay.com

Dacorum Community Grants Programme

Dacorum Borough Council is running a Community Grants Programme. The scheme is open to local groups, sports clubs and voluntary organisations that need funding for new projects benefiting people in Dacorum, and grants of up to £4000 are available. Recently, Berkhamsted Choral Society received funding to help stage a community concert in St Peter's, bringing people together through music and creating a memorable experience for local residents. Applications are now open for the second round of the Community Grants Programme. Find out more at:

 www.dacorum.gov.uk

The Golf Club Choir

It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced singer or a first timer, the Golf Club Choir is open to all! Come along to try a fun and sociable group that sings arrangements for all voice types in a range of styles. Mondays 6:30-8:30pm at Berkhamsted Golf Club.

Contact:

Penny Kent   

 Email Penny Kent