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

   

   
  • Sunday 4th January
    • 8am - Quiet Communion (CW)
    • 11am - All-Together Holy Communion - Epiphany*
    •  
  • Thursday 8th January
    • 10am - Morning Prayer
       
  • Sunday 11th January
    • 11am - Holy Communion with Sunday Club*
       
  • Thursday 15th January
    • 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 

     Epiphany

 8am First Reading: Isaiah 60.1-6 - to read click here (opens in new window or new tab)

8am Gospel:   Matthew 2.1-12 - 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.


ALL TOGETHER EPIPHANY SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION 11am 4th JANUARY

Together we’ll wonder where meeting Jesus at Christmas might send us next.
Everyone welcome — whether church is familiar or completely new to you in 2026.




And don't forget our St John's@3 service on the 18th at 3pm Christingle* with Christingle-making, a short service of light and praise, with a pizza party to follow*.  More info to follow
 



Exciting News! Dan Ide will be joining us at St John’s and St Michael’s as a full-time stipendiary curate
We’re delighted to share that Daniel (Dan) Ide will be joining us at St John’s and St Michael’s as a full-time stipendiary curate from July 2026. 🙌🏼
Dan is currently training for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and we can’t wait to welcome him — and to share in this next stage of his journey with God.
Please keep Dan in your prayers over the coming months as he completes his studies and prepares to begin his curacy here with us. 🙏🏽


 



THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE
What are your gifts and skills? How might you help St John’s flourish?
Last Sunday, Revd Kathryn shared some simple ways we can all play a part in church life. From welcoming at the door to helping with refreshments, music, or tech — every role makes a difference.
You can explore the lists here:
 👉 Sign-up link
Feel free to add your name online or on the paper versions in church. Thank you!

 
 

THE DECEMBER/JANUARY PARISH MAGAZINE

 
 
This edition contains the usual amazing articles from our regular contributors Rev Kathryn, Jo Holyfield, Michelle Boylan and Andy Chapman. As well as that, there's a very interesting piece from Richard Cuthbert on public rights of way, and much more.  Download or get your printed copy of the magazine in church.
Printed copies were in church from yesterday (Sunday) and also available to our deliverance team.
You can, as usual, download the pdf version by clicking here

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' DECEMBER DRAW WINNERS

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

1st prize:  Number 42    £91.80
2nd prize:  Number 10  £55.08
3rd prize:  Number 38  £36.72

To join the 100 Club contact please Nigel.

PUBLIC NIOTICE

In the Consistory Court of the Diocese of St Albans

In the parish of Lemsford

Church of Lemsford, St John the Evangelist

 

NOTICE IS GIVEN that we are applying to the Consistory Court of the diocese

for permission to carry out the following:

Extending the Garden of Remembrance by (i) removing 2 low box hedges, (ii)

planting 2 new privet hedges, and (iii) laying a new 25 ft paved path.

Copies of the relevant plans and documents may be examined at St John’s Church, Lemsford

Petitioners:

1. MR NIGEL JOHNSON - CHURCHWARDEN

2. REV KATHRYN ALFORD - MINISTER

3. MRS LORRAINE PURANIK - CHURCHWARDEN

Date 18th December 2025

If you wish to object to any of the works or proposals you should

send a letter or email stating the grounds of your objection to The Diocesan Registrar at St Albans Diocesan Registry, Winckworth Sherwood LLP, Arbor, 255 Blackfriars Road, LONDON, SE1 9AX or by email to stalbansregistry@wslaw.co.uk so that your letter reaches the registrar not later than the 17th January 2026. A letter of objection must include your name and address and state whether you live in the parish and/or your name is entered on the church electoral roll of the parish or any other basis on which you have an interest in the matter.



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

Many of us are happiest giving cash rather than scanning QR codes or tapping payment cards or smartphones.
 But, if you like the QR Code, you can point your Smartphone’s camera or QR app at it, and it will let you give, or from your PC/Mac you can just click this link: https://givealittle.co/campaigns/10cd954f-25f7-46d9-8813-634634729bfa.    You can also give via the new (easy to use) card payment device – both at the back of the church - these donations go to St Johns funds.  We are planning to make the QR Codes easily accessible from the pews too



Please sign up for a spot in the Cleaning Rota
Still slots to fill!

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

Let's spread this load between us all!! Please contact the churchwardens if you would like to take a turn with cleaning. 
You can choose a date that suits you!
 
  

 

 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.

 


 

2026 PCC meeting dates


2nd February 2026 at 7.15 pm

 


  


    

 

 


PLEASE CAN YOU HELP

 

WE COULD REALLY DO WITH YOUR FINANCIAL HELP IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING IF YOU CAN TO SUPPORT OUR CHURCH AND OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

EITHER

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR QUICK DONATION PAGE

CLICK HERE


   OR

ALTERNATIVELY WE CAN NOW RECEIVE DONATIONS VIA TEXT MESSAGE BY TEXTING THE WORD LEMSFORD FOLLOWED BY A SPACE AND THEN AN AMOUNT OF YOUR DONATION, TO 70085.  FOR EXAMPLE, TO GIVE £5 TYPE LEMSFORD 5, TO GIVE £10 TYPE LEMSFORD 10.  THEN SIMPLY SEND YOUR TEXT TO 70085.  TEXTS WILL COST YOUR DONATION AMOUNT PLUS ONE STANDARD RATE MESSAGE.

MANY THANKS

 

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IMPORTANT REQUEST TO REGULAR GIVERS FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

If regular givers would prefer to make their payments by bank transfer, the bank details of the church are:

HSBC Bank.  Sort Code: 40-46-08 A/C No: 51431609

Many thanks

 

 

 

Choir practice every Sunday at 9.45 am 

Bell ringing practice every Monday evening at 7.30 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.