| Volume 16 No. 34 | Friday 17 July 2026 |
Church news & notices Saturday 18 July at 8:00 am
Prayer Breakfast at Kings Road ChurchThe next Berkhamsted Churches Prayer Breakfast on Saturday will be at Kings Road Church. All are welcome. A prayer leaflet will be available this week, if you would like to join them in prayer. Contact:Peggy Sear  07804 697 948 | Sunday 19 July at 11:00 am
Sunday School PicnicThere will be a picnic for children of the Sunday School at the Rectory. Come along after the morning service - full details from Fr Stuart. | 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. | Red bucket for Venezuela Thank you to everyone who donated so kindly to the red bucket appeal for the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal. The total raised was £306.95.
Two catastrophic earthquakes have hit Venezuela close to the capital Caracas. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands are injured. The UN estimates that millions of people have been affected, with more than two million in the worst impacted areas. If you would like to make an online donation, please visit the Disasters Emergency Committee website: | Chorister exams success At St Peter's our musicians work hard to maintain the great tradition of Anglican choral music. As well as singing music in services, we offer a free musical education to children, equipping them with skills that will be with them for life. Four of our young choristers have recently sat exams with the Royal School of Church Music, and the results are in! Lizzie & Georgie were 'highly commended' in their Silver level exam; Joseph was 'commended' in his; and Charlotte passed her Gold award, the highest exam level. Congratulations to all of you - St Peter's is very proud of you!
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Schools news Castle Federation newsletter The Castle Federation governors' Summe Newsletter had been published, with news about Berkhamsted's church schools, including: - an update on Victoria's Ofsted inspection
- a look at how the Governors support pupils' and staff wellbeing
- an introduction to Castle Federation's newest Parent Governor
- a farewell from Elaine Bunn, Chair of Governors
| Heatwave kindness at Victoria School It has been a hot couple of weeks, and we have made sure we kept cool with the help of our brilliant staff. We were so excited to receive an email from the founder of 52 Lives, after we sent in a nomination for one of our YR2 Kindness Ambassadors. This is the message below: I'm very pleased to let you know that Leo was shortlisted in our Kind Pupil Award, which means he will be receiving a highly commended certificate and letter in the post. I have sent it to you and it should arrive either today or tomorrow. We received nominations from all over the country and only a handful of children were shortlisted so it is a wonderful achievement.
We also had our final Kindness meeting where we were awarded our Kind School for 2025/2026. Our Kindness Ambassadors have been fantastic role models to others and helped spread kindness in class, school and community. Mrs Lisa Freeman, Head of School |
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
 Church of England news
Festival of Creation in ChristGeneral Synod has given final approval to the Festival of Creation in Christ, which will be celebrated each year on the first Sunday in September. Grounded in an ancient liturgical tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church, this is a day to praise God as Creator and ponder the great mystery that everything was created through Christ. It also inspires us to care for the gift of the created world. |
 Diocesan news
Sunday 19 July
Bishop of St Albans Open GardenThis Sunday is your last chance this year to visit the Bishop's gardens at Abbey Gate House, the episcopal residence in St Albans. Abbey Gate House 2pm-4pm, on Abbey Mill Lane, just opposite the Cathedral west end. £5 entry, all proceeds go to the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust. | 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: | A message from Bishop RichardThe Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford, is to retire in December. Bishop Richard has been serving recently as our Acting Bishop of St Albans. He has sent out a farewell message to everyone in the St Albans Diocese, and our incoming Bishop Andrew has paid tribute to Richard's ministry, saying: "Bishop Richard has been a wise and faithful shepherd of the Church in this diocese [...] Well-loved and widely admired, he will be much missed."
Read more: |  | 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 18 July at 2:30 pm
Historic Churches meeting
The Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust (BHHCT) are holding their annual meeting at St. Mary's Church in the village of Pirton, North Hertfordshire, near Hitchin (SG5 3QE). There will be an opportunity to look around the church, with tea served at 3:30pm. This will be followed by a service of sung evensong at 4:30pm, with Archdeacon Charles Hudson preaching. If you would like to attend, please email the BHHCT secretary so they can cater for tea. Contact:Revd Canon Lynda Klimas 01234 745 407 | Sunday 19 July
July Farmers’ MarketThe next Farmers' Market is on Berkhamsted High Street, offering a range of local produce, tempting street food, beers and wines, delicatessen and fine cheeses, plus hand-crafted gifts, herbalist therapies and much more. Farmers' Markets are held on the 3rd Sunday of every month. | Wednesday 22 July
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 drop-in events at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 22 July and Wednesday 9 September 10 am-12 noon. Once you've read the Consultation Material, you can respond with your feedback via the online consultation.
| 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. We've secured a limited number of discounted tickets giving 15% off gold tickets. To take advantage of this offer, simply book online at the link below and use the discount code WELCOME15 at the online checkout. These are strictly limited, so be quick! Book one of two performances: 7-8pm or 9-10pm. | 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: |
Cartoon Church This week's cartoon courtesy of CartoonChurch
Copyright © 2026 Dave Walker
  | Worship with usThis Sunday: 19 July 2026
7th Sunday after Trinity |
9:30am Sung Eucharist
You are invited to join us at our main Sunday service
Next Sunday: 26 July 2026
8th Sunday after TrinityMusic this weekHymns: | Anthem: | If ye love me - Tallis | | Voluntary: | Praeludium in G BuxWV 147 - D. Buxtehude |
ReadingsIsaiah 44.6-8Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one. Psalm 139 (vv 1-9)1 O Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.2 You mark out my journeys and my resting place and are acquainted with all my ways.Response3 For there is not a word on my tongue, but you, O Lord, know it altogether.4 You encompass me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, so high that I cannot attain it.Response6 Where can I go then from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.Response8 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,9 Even there your hand shall lead me, your right hand hold me fast.Response Gospel: Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
 In our prayers this weekAnglican Cycle of Prayer:Province of the Episcopal Church of SudanIntercessions | 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, Nola Frost, Peter Kirk, David Labbett, Gwen Roberts, Peter Rolfe, Charlotte Szypryt, Barbara McKenna, Sienna Vallance | Weddings
(next four weeks) | | Wedding banns
called this Sunday | Bridie Hook & David Stephenson
Philip Gameson & Suzy Harker
| Baptisms
(next four weeks) | | | RIP | David Labbett, John Malcolm | | Memorial (year's mind) | Mark Dell, Freddy Gentil, Alex Evans | ☩ Funeral noticesFriday 31 July at 10:30am: Funeral of Christopher Russell
Tuesday 11 August at 12:00pm: 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 19 July 2026 - Trinity 7| 8am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart | | Preacher | Fr Stuart | | Reader | Liz P. | | 9:30am Eucharist |
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| President | Fr Stuart (Helen) | | Preacher | Fr Stuart | | Sidesperson | Cathy I. | | Sidesperson | Carole D. | | MC | Peter M. | | Acolyte | Stephen L. | | Acolyte | Hayley K. | | Thurifer | Mark G. | | Cruficer | . | | Reader | Barbara J. | | Intercessions | Will G. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Helen N. | | Eucharistic Minister (Chalice) | Bev J. | | Sunday School | . | | Sound | Jeremy G. | | Friday Thought | |
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 | |
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Email Peggy Sear
