St Peter’s, London Colney is a cheerful and committed Christian community, which proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ through regular worship, service to the community and pastoral care for each other.

For an informal discussion please contact the Bishop of Hertford (bishophertfordpa@stalbans.anglican.org or 01438817260)

If you would like an application pack, please email the Archdeacon of St Albans PA on archdstapa@stalbans.anglican.org

Closing date for applications: Thursday, 22nd June 2023 at 12 noon

Interviews: Thursday, 20th July 2023

Our community

• St Peter’s is a cheerful and committed Christian community, who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through regular worship, service to the community and pastoral care for each other. The church is situated close to Junction 22 of the M25, twenty miles north of London and with excellent road and rail links.

• Our Church

Built in 1825 and consecrated the following year, St Peter’s was originally built as a Chapel of Ease and subsequently became a parish in its own right in 1909.

Within the village, St Peter’s church and Parish Centre, with its large church hall and comfortable lounge room, is a good community resource. The church has been used for village events and has been the venue for public meetings, brass band concerts, choral music concerts, local exhibitions and school events.

The Parish Centre has a large church hall and comfortable lounge room and is available for hire.

Our team

The Churchwardens lead a small number of committed and conscientious church members who see their role as supporting the ministerial team and providing a link between the clergy and laity. The team are active in helping to make sure that all aspects of St Peter’s runs smoothly. We are supported by the Associate Priest and Reader.

Our vision and priorities

Our Vision is to continue to be a friendly, God-centred church that does the basics well, where all people are valued and where everyone’s spiritual and pastoral needs are nurtured.

Our priorities

• Going deeper into God, developing further the spiritual and pastoral life of St Peter’s by encouraging parishioners to grow their personal relationship with God in depth and breadth
• Encouraging a sense of belonging for all and making regular provision for young people.
• To continue to look outward and spread the Good News in our village
• To be a welcoming and accepting church where everyone, of all ages, is valued.
• Making new disciples, creating opportunities for newcomers, nurturing and encouraging them, helping them to feel part of St Peter’s church family.

Essential:

• Above all, we are looking for a priest who sees that we are good at being ‘Martha’ but who can help us to be more like ‘Martha'.
• Able to work together with us, sensitively supporting St Peter’s church, spiritually and numerically, during times of change
• Community and ecumenically minded and prepared to root their life and ministry in this village
• Enthusiastic about the occasional offices and the opportunities they present to share God’s love in
• A good and kind teacher, a motivator of people, able to nurture individuals in their own ministry and release the gifts of those around them
• An enthusiastic communicator in person and someone who is comfortable in using technology.

Desirable:

• A committed and compassionate priest, able to nurture and grow networks of relationships in our village
• A priest of spiritual depth and prayerfulness, resilient, caring and sociable - irrespective of gender
• Full of understanding and warmth for those in need.
• Able to make God attractive to people who are looking to discover meaning and relevance in their lives through their faith
• Able to work collaboratively with all people, providing leadership and support to Christians of all ages.
• A good listener, a priest of grace and passion, able to communicate and empathise well

The Benefice is situated in the Parish of London Colney, close to Junction 22 of the M25, under 20 miles north of central London and with excellent road and rail links. The Parish is surrounded by pleasant countryside and St Peter’s is situated in a picturesque location on the banks of the River Colne. Although just a few miles from St Albans, London Colney retains a real sense of ‘village life’, offering the unique combination of 21st Century facilities as well as a sense of rural living.

St Peter’s is an active member of the Deanery which comprises fifteen parishes together with the Cathedral – a parish church in its own right. There is a very supportive Clergy Chapter meeting bi-monthly.

The Deanery Synod meets three times a year.

Relations with the Deanery are excellent and it is a ready source of support and shared resources whenever that is required.

There are excellent links with local churches and St Peter’s is a member of Churches Together in London Colney which comprises a Baptist Church, a Roman Catholic Church and an Independent Free Evangelical Church.

St Peter’s also helps to support the village food bank and the ministers of all four village churches meet together on a regular basis.

London Colney also has two mosques, serving the local Muslim residents. It is hoped that the new incumbent will be able to take forward links with the Imams.

The opportunity exists to extend and strengthen ecumenical links in the village.