Dad would come home from work, sit in the armchair in the corner of the living room and disappear behind the vast pages of The Daily Telegraph. Like a lot of children, I was interested in what interested my parents, and so it was that I started exploring those newspaper pages for myself. My interests definitely tended towards the more lurid end of the spectrum as some of the first stories I can recall following were the trial of Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, and the dying years of Idi Amin’s rule in Uganda. This fascination with the news, which must have started when I was aged about eight or nine, has stayed with me. My day begins with Radio Four’s Today programme and a browse through several news websites, occasionally drops in on NBC’s Morning Joe later in the day, and often ends back on Radio Four for The World Tonight.

My youngest son started secondary school in September, which made for one of those moments when I took a step back and thought about how my children were growing up. Contemplating my children’s childhoods, I realised that engaging with ‘the news’ played virtually no part in their lives at all.

So it was that one evening last week I announced that at six o’clock we were all going to sit down together to watch the news and we’d do that each evening. I regret to report that this announcement wasn’t greeted with unalloyed joy, and to be honest when the top story was a dissection of the rules surrounding the election of a new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, I can see that my timing could have been better. Nevertheless, we’ll stick with it and see how it goes. I think it matters.

I think it matters because our Good News of a God Who so loves the world is going to fall pretty flat if we don’t really know what’s going on in the world that we claim God loves. Our Scriptures were written by people who were often deeply concerned with the ‘news’ of their day in terms of political power, economic inequality, the administration of justice and the stain of injustice. When Luke writes that John the Baptist started to preach, ‘In the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, when Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip prince of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias prince of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas’, it wasn’t because he was getting paid by per word, but because he believed that the specific historical context of the Incarnation was significant.

God doesn’t love the world in the abstract, but in all its beautiful, brutal and bewildering reality. If we’re going to speak of that love and more importantly seek to live out that love, then we need to know as much as possible about the world as it is. If we’re truly going to be people who are Good News, then we really need to engage with the world’s news, good, bad and ugly.

Saturday 13 September
Bike ‘n’ Hike

This Sunday, walkers and cyclists will be taking part in the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust (BHHCT)  Bike 'n' Hike, raising money for the beautiful churches in our local area. Fr Stuart is taking part, walking nearly 50 miles from Bedford to St Albans, via Hertford. He starts this evening (Friday 12 September), and hopes to reach St Albans tomorrow, in time for a spot of lunch. Stuart will be raising money for St Peter's Restoration Fund and the BHHCT. You can sponsor Stuart via his JustGiving page below. If you'd like to follow his progress, Stuart will be posting photos and videos on his Instagram page

 www.justgiving.com/page/stuart-owen-8

 www.instagram.com/pilgrimscairn

Sunday 14 September
Choral Evensong

All are welcome to a service of choral evensong this Sunday. Our choir will lead worship with uplifting music, including the Smith Responses and the Evening Service in D minor by Thomas Attwood Walmisley (1814-1856).  

Walmisley was once the organist of Croydon Parish Church and an eminent Cambridge University academic. He was named after his godfather, the composer Thomas Attwood (1765-1838), who had been a pupil of Mozart!

 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/choir

Saturday 27 September at 7:00 pm
Lasagne evening

Carolynne is organising another fabulous lasagne evening, so put the date in your diaries for another sumptuous Italian feast. There will also be another raffle with super prizes! Carolynne is also inviting the chefs of the parish to bake their own lasagne, so please contact her if you'd like to provide a dish. £15 a head, all proceeds towards the St Peter's Renovation Appeal.

Contact:

 Send an email to: Carolynne Charman

 07503 156 751

Thursday 2 October at 10:30 am
Thursday Communion at Potten End

Beginning on Thursday 2 October, Holy Trinity Potten End are launching a new short, reflective service with Holy Communion on Thursday mornings at 10.30am. This will be a gentle and unhurried time of prayer, scripture, and the sacrament-ideal for anyone who appreciates a peaceful pause in the middle of the week. The service will last around 25-30 minutes, with an opportunity to stay for a chat afterwards for those who wish. All are warmly welcome, and an invitation is extended to anyone living at Castle Village or Annett House.

Contact:

 Send an email to: Rev Ben Brady

 www.holytrinitypottenend.org.uk

Sunday 5 October at 9:30 am
Confirmation service

Bishop Richard, acting Bishop of St Albans, will be joining us for our Parish Mass on Sunday 5th October to confirm those who have been prepared. Everyone is welcome to share in this celebration as the confirmation candidates are admitted fully into the Body of Christ. We join in prayer for all those taking this important step in the journey of faith.

Sunday 12 October at 11:15 am
Harvest Promises Auction

We'll mark Harvest Festival with a Promises Auction at 11.15am on Sunday 12th October. The origins of Harvest Festival lie in people giving directly of their gifts in the form of crops they'd grown or livestock they'd nurtured, and so in marking Harvest Festival with a Promises Auction, we're encouraging people to give of their gifts in that same direct way.

If anyone would like to offer a promise please contact Fr Stuart. It helps to be as specific as possible: e.g 'Four hours gardening' is preferable to 'Doing some gardening'.

Contact:

 Send an email to: Stuart Owen

 01442 8797 39

Raffle: win a Jim Moir artwork

Jim Moir - Bird Colour Wheel
Limited edition digital giclée print on museum-grade Hahnemühle fine art paper

Vic Reeves of the TV comedy duo Vic and Bob is a familiar face, but did you know that he is also a celebrated artist, working under his real name, Jim Moir?

Jim has produced this spectacular reimagining of the colour wheel through 140 beautifully hand-painted watercolour birds. The original work recently featured in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. We are grateful to Jim for donating this signed limited-edition print (1 of 250) for the prize in our 2025 raffle, with all proceeds going to the St Peter's Renovation Appeal, saving our historic building. This autumn, Carolyne will selling raffle tickets - your chance to win a vibrant work of celebrity art! Tickets will be on sale very soon - watch this space... 

Introducing… Helen & Rob

We are delighted to introduce two new members to our parish team this year:

Helen Rowland

Helen is a new ordinand who is joining the parish on placement.

I am very honoured to be joining you as an Ordinand and being part of such a thriving and welcoming community. I am undertaking my theological training at St Mellitus College in London, on a part-time basis, whilst also working in The City full time. My journey of discernment has so far been an exciting time of growth and humility, encompassing hospital chaplaincy, working with refugees, PCC Secretary, and serving at my sending church. I am passionate about the rich diversity of our Anglican Communion, and have been blessed to serve within the Episcopal Church in the USA. It was lovely to have the opportunity to have a coffee and chat with a few of you last Sunday, and I very much look forward to getting to know you and being involved in the life of St Peter's!!

Rob Jenkins

Rob joins us as the new Assistant Chaplain at Berkhamsted School and Pastoral Assistant at St Peter's.

Hi, my name is Rob Jenkins. Thank you all who have so warmly welcomed me into the St Peter's family. Until recently, I was living and working at Monkton Combe Prep School in Bath. There, I attended St. Bart's - a busy Anglican church, blessed with families, students, and their army of more senior saints! Before that, I studied Theology at Durham and my parents returned to my Dad's homeland, South Wales. Therefore, having toured the UK for the past few years, it's lovely to settle back into Herts - where I grew up.  I am looking forward to serving St Peter's and Berkhamsted wherever God shows the need. Thank God for the warm welcome at Victoria Infants that allows me to lead Collective Worship and a lunchtime club. Pray for fruit as those little ones are introduced to their Father God. I look forward to more involvement on Sundays as the year unfolds, and in the meantime, eagerly anticipate next week's Wednesday morning coffee!

This photo was taken on my wider family's recent holiday to Scotland, at the late-Queen Mother's family home, Glamis Castle. I am squatting on the right, next to my grandmother!

 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/about/whos-who

Dates for your diaries

Important dates coming up this autumn:

• Sunday 5 October 9:30am:  Confirmations
• Sunday 12 October 9:30am: Sung Eucharist for Harvest
• Sunday 2 November
  9:30am: Sung Eucharist for All Saints
  6pm: Requiem Mass for All Souls
• Sunday 9 November: Remembrance Sunday
• Sunday 23 November: Berkhamsted Festival of Light
• Sunday 30 November
  9:30am: Sung Eucharist for Advent Sunday
  6pm: Advent Carols by Candlelight

World Suicide Prevention Day

Last Wednesday (10 September) was World Suicide Prevention Day. We have information inside St Peter's Church in Berkhamsted with contact numbers and leaflets to take away. If you know anyone who is struggling, please pass this information on to them. Whatever they are going through, there's someone who will listen. 

If you are worried about someone, or if you have been affected by a suicide of a friend or loved one, Hector's House is a charity which works to prevent suicide and help families and friends:

 www.hectorshouse.org.uk

A new term at Victoria School

Welcome back to our new school year! It has been lovely to see all the children back and how they have settled into the routines so quickly.

It has also been a time for reflection about Victoria's achievements for 2024/25. I have been so proud of our children who have lived our values of respect, thankfulness, resilience and kindness, especially the Year 2 children who were our Kindness Ambassadors and Spirituality Ambassadors. We also had lots of visits, visitors and events with our VSA raising an amazing £50,000 over the last two years, which has paid for improvements to the nursery outside area, resources and experiences.

As we return to our daily worship, we reflected on the mustard seed parable. I reminded the children about the great things they can achieve through small beginnings. That they are like the tiny seed which will grow over the year into the mustard tree. We can't wait to share all our achievements with you over the coming months.

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

Diocesan Property Team vacancies

The Diocesan of St Albans Property Team is undergoing a period of transformation, including restructure and modernisation of their systems and ways of working, to improve their support for clergy and parishes in local ministry. As a result, they have two vacancies for newly created roles:

• Asset and Development Manager - closing date 22 September
• Building Surveyor and Facilities Manager - closing date 26 September

For full details and application forms, please visit the Diocesan website:

Contact:

 Send an email to: Charlotte Kirby, Property Director

 www.stalbansdiocese.org/vacancies-role/diocesan-ro

Alban Way Camino pilgrimage

This Sunday, eleven young adults are setting off on a week-long pilgrimage along the Camino Inglés in Spain, guided by prayer, reflection and community. Over recent months in their discipleship year they have been preparing with prayer and spiritual practices. Now, as part of the Alban Way, they'll walk alongside fellow pilgrims and leaders, marking a milestone in their discipleship journey, culminating at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Read more on the Diocesan website, and find out about joining the 2026 Alban Way:

 www.stalbansdiocese.org/news/young-adults-set-off

Friday 12 September - Sunday 21 September
Exhibition: the Lost Buildings of Berkhamsted

As part of Heritage Open Days, we are hosting a display by Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society (BLHMS) in St Peter's Church, presenting the lost buildings of Berkhamsted. The exhibition will include fascinating photos of Berkhamsted's grand houses, inns, industrial buildings and Roman remains that have been lost, along with explanation of their importance to the town, the people who lived there, the places where they worked and the pubs where they drank. Free entry, open all day in the south transept.

Sunday 14 September
Ashridge Garden Party

This Sunday it's the Ashridge Garden Party, with family activities, puppet shows, crafts, a dog show, face painting, a shopping village, food and drink stalls and cream teas! All proceeds go towards the wonderful work of the Hospice of St Francis.

 www.stfrancis.org.uk/events/fundraising

Wednesday 17 September at 11:30 am
Julian Meetings

Julian Meetings are a regular online meeting for quiet prayer and contemplation. They take place on Wednesdays starting at 11.30am and last about 25 minutes. To take part, you need to use Zoom video conferencing software and a camera or microphone on your computer. Participants join on Zoom and are silent until 12 noon. Afterwards, they enjoy an online chat if they wish to. Please tell Ruth if you would like to join, she will then send out the Zoom link each month by email a few days before the meeting.

Contact:

 Send an email to: Ruth Treves-Brown

 01442 863 268

Sunday 21 September at 4:00 pm
Behind the Mirror: Songs without Words

Enjoy an afternoon of romantic music for clarinet trio in St Peter's Lady Chapel, with Sarah Thurlow (clarinet), Clare O'Connell (cello) and Iain Farrington (piano). Programme to include music by Fanny Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms, interspersed with six songs from Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe. Tickets £25, under-18s free.

 www.behindthemirror.org/whats-on-1/songs-without-w

Thursday 25 September - Sunday 28 September
Graham Greene International Festival

The Graham Greene International Festival returns in September, celebrating the life and writing of the Berkhamsted-born novelist. This year's special guest is the Scottish, satirist, writer and broadcaster Armando Iannucci (Alan Partridge, The Thick of It). the programme will include presentations and discussions about The Third Man and the Mexican background to The Power and the Glory; a tour of the WWI trenches; and screenings of two films based on Greene's novels, Ministry of Fear and Brighton Rock.  Events will take place at the Civic Centre, the Town Hall, and Berkhamsted School.

 grahamgreenebt.org/events

Saturday 4 October at 7:30 pm
Music of Love and Longing

An evening of music for voice and piano at St Mary the Virgin Church in Old Amersham, with baritone Thomas Isherwood, accompanied by Fei Ren on piano. Advance tickets £17, £20 on the door, under-16s £10.

 www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/old-amersham

Sunday 5 October at 4:00 pm
Alexander Ardakov Piano Recital

Celebrated pianist Alexander Ardakov will return to St Peter's for another exhilarating recital in October. He will present a programme of works by the master of piano music himself, Frederick Chopin (1810-1849), including a selection of nocturnes, mazurkas, impromptus and Chopin's Sonata No. 3 in B minor. Tickets are just £12 (pay on the door). It is a privilege and a delight for us to enjoy performances by this acclaimed player - don't miss it!

Sunday 12 October
Berkhamsted Artisan & Makers Market

A brand new market - an Artisan and Makers' Market is to run on the second Sunday of the month from March next year, with 2 launch markets on Sunday 12th October and the Sunday 30th November. The Market will be a regular show case for local creative talent, and brings another exciting event to the High Street. We hope it will ultimately achieve the same success as the popular Antiques and Vintage market in adding to the High Street bBuzz, and attracting visitors to the town.

The Market is being organised by FoSP ( The Friends of St Peters), a charity that fundraises to ensure that our other iconic High Street building, St Peters Church, will still be gracing our High St in the next millennium; it also supports the reimagined Rectory Lane Cemetery which, following its £1.25m makeover from ?Dead Space to Living Place', requires funds to sustain its beautiful landscape and community green space.

 www.berkhamstedartisanmarket.co.uk

Friday 21 November
DENS Sponsored Sleepout

Local homelessness charity DENS invites the community to take part in its annual Sponsored Sleepout, now at Hammond Academy in Hemel Hempstead. The free event is open to adults and children aged eight and above, offering an inspiring night of activities, live music, and a chance to learn more about DENS' vital work. As participants bed down under the stars, they'll experience a small glimpse of the challenges rough sleepers face, while raising funds to support local people in crisis. Last year's Sleepout raised £33,000, and organisers hope to make this year's the biggest yet.

Free places are available now at:

 www.dens.org.uk/sleepout25

Berkhamsted’s 2025-26 concert seasons

September's when Berkhamsted's the new concert seasons are unveiled, and there's so much to look forward to! Pick up leaflets at the back of church for full listings and ticket info.

Concerts at St Peter's are listed in the new Berkhamsted Concerts leaflets, with performances by Berkhamsted Choral Society, Behind the Mirror, Alexander Ardakov and some glittering Christmas concerts in December.

Berkhamsted Music will present varied programmes of chamber music, including works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Bach, Debussy, Finzi, Bartók and many more, performed by acclaimed ensembles including the Marmen Quartet, the Eblana String Trio and Lumas Winds. All concerts take place in Berkhamsted Civic Centre. Tickets are £25, under-18s free, season tickets £90.

Bridgewater Sinfonia's season opens on Saturday 4 October with the Brahms Piano Concerto N° 1 at Deans' Hall. This season's highlights include Sibelius's Finlandia, Bruch's Violin Concerto No 1 and Schubert's 9th Symphony at venues around Berkhamsted. In June 2026, they're back in St Peter's Church the Prokofiev Piano Concerto N° 3.

 www.stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk/concerts

Bridgewater Sinfonia 2025/26 concert season

Bridgewater Sinfonia 2025/26 concert season has been announced, starting on Saturday 4 October with the Brahms Piano Concerto N° 1 at Deans' Hall. This season's highlights include Sibelius's Finlandia, Bruch's Violin Concerto No 1 , Schubert's 9th Symphony at venues around Berkhamsted, culminating with Prokofiev Piano Concerto N° 3 in St Peter's Church in June 2026. Tickets will be on sale soon, and you can join the Friends of the Bridgewater Sinfonia to get a season ticket. Pick up a brochure at the back of church for a full list of concerts.

 www.bridgewater-sinfonia.org.uk

Open Door to close

We are sorry to learn that the Trustees of The Way Inn Christian Centre Trust  (WICCT) have announced the forthcoming closure of the Open Door Berkhamsted, effective September 19, 2025. This difficult decision has been made in response to a variety of ongoing pressures, including financial constraints, location, volunteer capacity, and the evolving needs of the community. Ove the years, Open Door have been running a wide range of valuable events and activities, including a community café , family craft activities, a Repair Café, a Memory Café for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, and a Community Fridge distributing free food. 

 opendoorberkhamsted.co.uk