News Archive - June 2020

Message from Joy - Second Sunday after Trinity

I am delighted to say that after a week of preparations St Mary's is now ready to reopen for private prayer. The church will be open on Wednesdays 10am to 4pm and Sundays 11am to 4pm each week, starting this Sunday 21st June 2020. There will be no services in church; it will be open only for private prayer. So our online services will continue for the foreseeable future. When you go into church you will see that it looks different inside due to the regulations around social distancing. Chairs are set apart from one another to enable people to sit without being in close proximity. All the books and children's toys have been removed. To enable cleaning, which will have to be done more frequently, part of the church is out of bounds. Despite the changes in the layout of the interior of St Mary's, those who have been into the church to get it ready for reopening have remarked on the sense of peace and calm within.

Don't forget that in addition to the online service for St Mary's (which can be viewed on the website at any time during the week) there is also the Alban Pilgrimage. It will take place at 10am on the St Alban's Cathedral YouTube Channel this Sunday. The Revd Richard Coles, priest, radio host, TV personality and former pop-singer will preach, and Bishop Alan will preside, for the Patronal Eucharist in the Shrine of St Alban to mark St Alban's Day. Readings, prayers and poetry from around the world and a contribution from Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans will also make this event extra special and unique.

I hope you are making plans for the forthcoming Scarecrow Festival. There is a poster attached if you would like to display one in a window or in the garden.