Welcome

                       Photo large of St Johns Church

 

 

Please click on the link below to watch an aerial video of the church and listen to our bells.

Drone photography courtesy of https://www.upaerial.co.uk

 

Welcome, and thank you for visiting our website.

Our church is situated in the picturesque village of Lemsford, close to Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City and opposite Brocket Hall. 

We warmly welcome all visitors to our church and we would love you to come to one of our services or events.  We hope that you find what you are looking for in these pages, but if you have any questions and would like to speak to someone about the church, please do contact one of the team members listed in the Who's Who and Contacts page.

We look forward to seeing you.

 
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WHAT'S ON AT ST JOHN'S IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AT A GLANCE

   

  
  • Thursday 22nd October
    • 10am - Morning Prayer
       
  • Saturday 24th October
    • 1pm - The Wedding of Ben and Marina (note the time change)
       
  • Sunday 25th October
    • 11am - Holy Communion
    • 4pm - A Special Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance
       
  • Thursday 29th October
    • 10am - No Morning Prayer - Half Term
       
  • Sunday 1st November
    • 8am - Quiet Communion (BCP)
    • 11am - All Together Worship for All Saints Day*
       
  • Thursday 5th November
    • 10am - Morning Prayer
* Children are welcome at all our services, but these services and events are especially suitable for families and children (as well as people of all other ages!)


Readings 

      Last Sunday after Trinity 

                First Reading: Colossians 3:12-17 - to read click here (opens in new window or new tab)

Gospel: Matthew 24:30-35 - to read click here (opens in new window or new tab)

  
CAR PARKING

Because car parking at the church is becoming difficult, we are  opening up the school playground on Sunday mornings for everyone to use.  The playground is at the back of the school, and is large enough to accommodate about 30 cars.  Please do use this area to park in, but take extra care when exiting into the street as cars do tend to speed up and down the hill.
 


You are warmly invited to our Autumn Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance on Sunday 25th October at 4pm.  As the weather is likely to be becoming a bit wintery by the end of the month, we’ll be gathering in church. 
This short, reflective service is open to everyone. It offers space to pause, to give thanks, and to remember the lives of those we have loved and lost—whether recently or many years ago. You don’t need to be a churchgoer, or have a family member buried in our churchyard or Garden of Remembrance; the service is simply a gentle way of honouring love, loss, and memory together as a community.
Afterwards, you’re warmly invited to stay for tea and delicious cake.





FLOURISHING TOGETHER   
by Rev'd Kathryn



If you were in church on 11 October, you’ll have heard me talk about how we might make our vision a reality here at St John’s. I don’t normally ask you to read my sermons, but if you could digest this one over a coffee and a biscuit, that would be brilliant: Click here to read my sermon.

Our updated Church Flourishing Strategy 2026–2028 sets out where we think God is calling us to be by 2028, and what we plan to focus on to help us get there. You can see the whole thing on one page by clicking here.

But a strategy on paper won’t achieve anything on its own. Flourishing only happens through each of us being open to God’s calling on our lives: perhaps taking the brave step of hosting a small group, finding a new way for our church to be a positive presence in our community, or joining in with some of the ways we’re seeking to grow as a multi-generational family.

Moving forward together takes time, skills and, yes, money, because our regular income doesn’t yet cover our regular costs, let alone exciting new projects.

That’s why giving, in all its forms, isn’t a side issue for me to raise when I’m feeling brave. It’s how we deliver our vision.

Time, skills, prayer and money all count, and none counts more than another. As Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches”, and our giving is the fruit of staying connected to the vine. It’s not a tax or a burden. It’s an overflowing of the love we’ve received from being rooted in God.

To everyone who has given faithfully for years: thank you. You have held this place together. For you, this message may simply be a thank-you for carrying on.

But for many of us, I hope it’s an invitation to take a fresh look, by...

  1. Looking at the strategy and asking where God might be calling you to play a part.
  2. Taking a fresh look at your giving of time, skills, prayer and money, using the pamphlet and pledge card in church.
  3. Praying about it, and when you’re ready, hand the pledge card to Rev Dan or me after a service. If you’re not sure where you’d fit, just ask!

Together, let's stay attached to the vine, offer what we’ve each been given, and see what grows in Lemsford, Stanborough, Cromer Hyde and beyond .

With thanks and love,

Rev'd Kathryn





St John’s@3 Light in the Darkness ‘Party' - Sunday 8th November, 3pm

St John’s@3 is our informal, all-age gathering on some Sunday afternoons — a relaxed time of worship, stories, crafts, activities and cake, designed for children, young people, families, and anyone who doesn’t fancy sitting still in a pew!
This month we’re having a Light Party. As the afternoons grow darker, come and join us for a bright and joyful time together, with games, crafts, songs, activities, tasty treats and plenty of fun.
It’s a celebration of light, hope and friendship for the whole community.
Everyone is welcome — whether you come regularly or it’s your very first time. We’d love to see you!
**To help us ensure we have enough resources for everyone it would be really helpful if you could drop Rev Kathryn an email to let her know if you're coming. revkathrynalford@gmail.com**

 




If you fancy going to a firework display, look no further that St John's School's Family Fireworks.  The ad says it all:


 



Time for a re-think!  The People's Emergency Briefing - Sunday 22nd Nov at 3pm



Have you booked your tickets yet?
On 27th November 2025, Westminster Hall hosted a National Emergency Briefing, bringing together more than 1,200 invited politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport, and the media. Introduced by Chris Packham CBE, ten of the UK's foremost experts addressed the audience on the threats posed by climate change and nature loss - along with the opportunities from genuine emergency action.

This National Emergency Briefing has since been adapted into a film for public release: the People’s Emergency Briefing. The goal is to reset the national conversation and secure a government-led televised emergency briefing from independent experts - an essential first step towards the emergency action now needed.

We are screening the film on Sunday November 22nd at 3pm at St John’s Church Annexe.  The viewing is free to attend, but if you do want to attend please book a place by emailing churchwarden@puranik.org (recommended age 16+).

After the film we will have refreshments and an opportunity to share our reactions and ideas.

See you there!



Harvest Festival Report and Photos - 4th October

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our All Together Harvest Festival service and lunch! 🌾
It was a harvest packed full of giving and receiving, as we created a chain of sharing from God out into the world.
Thank you, too, for your generous gifts for the foodbank. They’ll make a real difference.



 

 

Our October/November '26 parish magazine is out, and it’s full of the people and stories that make St John’s special. Rev’d Kathryn reflects on the darker months; Gina Butler takes us along on a lively Bike ’n’ Hike with Kevin and Lucy Earl and the team; and Lorraine Dewar introduces the People’s Emergency Briefing film we’ll be showing in November.
Jo Brooks shares autumn activities for children and families, while headteacher Michelle Boylan brings news and photographs from St John’s School. There’s more fascinating local history from Andy Chapman, Nature Notes from Geoffrey Hollis, and thoughts on the peaceful 8am service.
You’ll also find a short report and photographs of The Big Give and Wild Autumn Worship, alongside our services and events for the months ahead. Thank you to everyone who wrote, photographed, contributed or helped make it happen!
Get you printed copy from the back of the Church or to download the pdf click here.


 

Upcoming Events and Services

These are now kept up to date on 'A Church Near You' - specifically here:
In Calendar form:
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7875/service-and-events/calendar/2026/8/ [and, of course, you can change month at the click of a button].  Then just click on the specific entry to get the details.
If you prefer 'Event Advert' form - then click here:
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7875/service-and-events/events-all/

THE YEAR OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND WELLBEING
This year, St Albans Diocese invites us all to embark on a journey of reconnecting with our faith and discovering the renewing life of the Holy Spirit. There’s a wonderful new website full of opportunities, including retreats, quiet days (some specially for churchwardens), pilgrimage walks, talks, online accompanied prayer weeks, courses, and a special summer Cathedral celebration.

You’ll also find resources for prayer, as well as helpful guidance to care for your own wellbeing.

Why not take a look? You can book events directly, but if something catches your eye and you’d like some company, let us know, and we can see if others would like to join in too.

Visit: year.stalbansdiocese.org


 

'IOO CLUB' SEPTEMBER DRAW WINNERS

The winning numbers of the September '100 Club' Draw were:

1st prize:  Number 82  £89.10
2nd prize:  Number 31  £53.46
3rd prize:  Number 66  £35.64

To join the 100 Club please contact Nigel.

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FOOD BANK
Our local Food Bank at the New Zion Christian Fellowship church would appreciate receiving donations of food and other things from us now and all year round. It would be wonderful if you could support them by bringing various things in on Sunday mornings, and placing them in the big plastic box which will be placed in the porch. The sort of things the Food Bank would like to receive are:
  • All food with good sell by dates (tins of fruit and veg, jams, packets of cereal, coffee, tea, long life milk and so on)
  • Toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner and toilet rolls
  • Cleaning products (kitchen and bathroom cleaners etc)

We are asked not to donate clothes.

Nigel will arrange to take our offerings to the New Zion church every Wednesday morning.




COULD YOU BE A ST JOHN'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION GOVERNOR?

St John’s school currently has a vacancy for a Foundation Governor. Foundation Governors are nominated by the PCC, represent the Church of England on the Board, and help ensure that the Christian ethos of the school is maintained.
 
Please pray and think about whether you - or someone you know - would make a great governor. They don’t need to be a member of St John’s church, but would need to be able to fulfil the role description above.
As a governor myself, I promise you that it’s an extremely rewarding (and often fun) role, and is manageable alongside other responsibilities.
Please contact me if you’re interested.
Rev Kathryn




CHURCH GIVING

We greatly value, and desperately need, your financial support to help with the running of St John's Church.  We are always delighted to receive weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual or ad hoc donations, and these can be made in the following  different ways:

  • By bank transfer or Standing Order.  Our church bank account details are:  HSBC Bank, sort code 40-46-08, account number 51431609.
  • By cash into the church plate during services.
  • By using the contactless card machine near the main door of the church.
  • By using the link from this QR code:
This code is also printed into many of our church service leaflets.
  • By using our Quick donation page via this link
CLICK HERE

  • By text.  Just text the word LEMSFORD followed by a space and then an amount that you wish to give, to 70085, e.g. to give £10 type LEMSFORD 10, and send to 70085.
  • By using the Parish Giving Scheme, which is a direct debit scheme.  Please ask the Treasurer or a Church Warden for more information.

MANY THANKS INDEED




 HOME INSURANCE

If you need to take out, or renew, a home insurance policy, please think of using Ecclesiastical Insurance as they will donate £130 to the church through their Trust 130 Promotion.  All you need to do is to say that the donation is to go to St John's Church, Lemsford.  Find out more at www.ecclesiastical.com/trust130 or call their team on 0800 783 0130 and quote Trust 130.

 



Please sign up for a spot in the Cleaning Rota or to help with refreshments after our Sunday services


More volunteers are needed to help us. All the materials you'll need for church cleaning are provided. All that we need is your time.

Please contact the churchwardens if you would like to take a turn with either cleaning or by helping with refreshments 
You can choose dates that suit you.




 

2026 PCC meeting dates


2nd February 2026 at 7.15 pm

20th April at 7.15 pm

APCM - 10th May at 12 noon

16th May 2026 Away morning at Codicote Church at 9.30 am

14th July 2026 at 7.15 pm

29th September 2026 at 7.15 pm

24th November 2026 @ 7 pm for 7.15 pm

 


  


    

 

  

 

To email us either click the button below or go to the Who's who and Contacts page and click on the person you would like to contact.  Alternatively please use the form at the bottom of the Who's who and Contacts page.