Bike 'n hike pilgrimage

The Rev. Bill Britt, Vicar of Stotfold and Radwell and Hitchin Rural Dean and his wife Theresa ( one of our Trustees) walked the pilgrimage route he created while on Extended Study Leave last summer. 

The route is a seven-mile circular walk taking in Roman and medieval sites and including the churches of St. Ippolyts, and Great and Little Wymondley.  Bill has produced an 8-page self-guided pilgrimage booklet with a brief history of each stop, a Bible verse, short reflection and detailed directions plus map. The walk is designed to help connect us with the sacredness of our local landscape, buildings and history.

Government help for church repairs

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has announced that the Government’s Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme will be extended for three years to 31 March 2025.  

Grants cover the cost of VAT on repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship. 

Applications may be made in respect of repairs to the fabric of the building and include associated professional fees, as well as repairs to turret clocks, bells, and pipe organs.  

This can make a very significant reduction in overall costs and is good news for any listed church engaged in or about to embark on repairs or restoration.

Annual Meeting- new Trustees

Our Annual Meeting was held at All Saints Church, Kings Langley on 20 July with a good attendance of 29 Friends and Members. 

The meeting was chaired by the Rev. Canon Malcolm Grant, who announced a number of changes. The Rev. Canon Paul Hughes and Mrs. Judith Howard had stood down during the year as Trustees, and were duly thanked for their services. New Trustees had taken their place: Andrew Lambourne as Grants Secretary (taking over from Archie Russell, who remains a Trustee), Richard North (remaining also Bike ‘n Hike Treasurer and Gift Aid Officer), the Rev. Canon Lynda Klimas (preparing to take over as Trust Secretary from William Marsterson, who remains a Trustee) and Dr. Mark Newbery, (taking over from Jim May as Friends and Supporters Secretary). The Chairman announced his own retirement from the role and the election of Madeline Russell as his successor. All were duly thanked for their service to the Trust

Other reports were received (Accouts, Grants, and Bike ’n Hike). The need to keep raising the Trust’s profile with churches across the two counties was stressed.

After hearing from the Churchwardens about the history of All Saints, we had time to explore- notably the C14th Langley Chapel. We then drove to Boxmoor to enjoy tea and a brief talk about the church. This was followed by Choral Evensong, led by the Revd. Michael Macey, with the sermon preached by the Revd. Canon Malcolm Grant.

All in all, a very successful and rewarding afternoon.

William Marsterson

Church Tour with Roman bricks

With the coach full, we set off from Royston station on our tour which devised by Trustee Richard Genochio.

First stop was St Mary's Godmanchester which is mentioned in the Doomesday book. After coffee, the Vicar gave us an excellent guided tour - pointing out the re-use of Roman bricks, tiles and columns in the construction of this fine Gothic/Early English church which dates from 13th C. 

We then moved on to St Andrew's, Orwell where the tower dates from c1250 and the chancel from c1320. There is a memorial to former Rector Jeremiah Radcliffe, one of the scholars who translated the Authorised Version of the Bible.

After a convivial pub lunch at Orwell, we visited St Helena and St Mary's Church, Bourn. In Early English and later styles, the chancel has a hammer beam roof with angels and surviving rood screen. 

Finally we arrived at St John the Baptist, Royson which was recently restored, and reopened less than a year ago after a devastating fire in 2018. Dating from 1250 it was originally part of an Augustinian Priory and we again had an excellent talk and guided tour. The Trust gave a grant towards the new lighting scheme and it was a joy to see how bright and fresh the interior looked.  After this came a delicious afternoon tea to end of a perfect day, which ran like clockwork thanks to the organising skills of Madeline Russell our Chairman and Theresa Britt, Trustee.