St. Mary’s, Apsley End
St. Mary’s is part of the same benefice as Kings Langley but here the church is locked and there is no indication at all as to how a visitor can get in. The website gives no clues either (http://beneficeoflangelei.org.uk ).
All Saints, Kings Langley
I found All Saints open and the external signs give the opening times. You go to the hall entrance around the back and ring the bell. It is a church worth visiting as there are some interesting things here. Some lights are left on which gives a more welcoming atmosphere. There is a guide book at £2 and an interesting booklet ‘Who was who in Kings Langley Parish Church’ a very good idea as it list various people who are buried here. There is a large ‘time line’ which gives a history of the church from medieval times to today, all put into the historical context. A lot of work has gone into this.
There is a small votive stand but it is not very well signed to encourage usage. Somewhere to leave prayers would be good as well. There is a visitors book but again it wasn’t very obvious and only shows 6 entries this year so far. The church website is at http://beneficeoflangelei.org.uk/all-saints-kings-langley/ but it doesn’t give visitor information which is a shame as this is a church well worth seeing.
All Saints time line
St. Catherine’s, Sacombe
St. Catherine’s is well signposted off the main road. The notice in the porch says that the church is open each day from 10am – 4pm.
There were guides on the church history and on the kneelers (which are nice and bright) and a UCB book open on the right day. Some paintings were displayed by a local artist. ‘Saints and Pilgrim’s’ was on show as well. There is no website but an entry on ‘a church near you’ but this doesn’t have any visitor information. St. Catherine’s is worth a look and would make a great small pilgrim place (http://smallpilgrimplaces.org/)
All Saints, Little Munden
All Saints was a real surprise. From the outside it is a simple country church much like any other. There is an A frame notice outside saying that the church is open. Inside there is a nice modern kitchen area, toilet and an upstairs meeting room. And a large display about the fauna and flora in the wonderful churchyard here. This goes into a lot of detail with even the lichens on the gravestones identified and described. There was also a churchyard plan and a record of the monuments. Also another good World War 1 display which features the people from the village who served in the conflict. There is a notable monument here too to Sir Peter Thornbury and there is a display about that as well. There doesn’t seem to be a church website but there is an entry on ‘a church near you’ but this doesn’t mention all that there is to see here! There is a good churchyard leaflet to take away which details some of the plants to be found and one that details all those who fought in WW1 and what happened to them. Another leaflet details Sir John Thornbury’s tomb and a straightforward guide to the church.
A lot of effort has gone into visitors here and I rate this church as very good for this study and was glad that I had visited it.
St. Mary, Standon
St. Mary’s was open with an open door. I found one of the rarest things in churches – a children’s guide! Very few churches have these. This is a good one which explains what is what without being patronising. I wish that more churches would give this a go. Also, there was an adult guide and a leaflet ‘A Brief Walk Down Standon High Street’, a useful partnership between church and community. There was a ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ book as well and a children’s area and a small display of their work. This is a well cared for church. There is no website but there is information on ‘a church near you’, but nothing on visitors.
St. Mary the Virgin, Braughing
St. Mary’s was open. I met a friendly man who told me that they had had an induction service for their new priest a few days before when the church was full. Some things had been tidied away for this. The church was spotless.
There is a good children’s corner here and 20 people had signed the visitors book in July. Also, a church yard plan and memorial list which is useful for those tracing ancestors. A votive stand can be used and there were some laminated bookmarks in the pews with some good prayer ideas on them – a great idea.
A lot of effort has gone into another World War 1 display. This consists of a glass topped display cabinet with a lot of ribbons in it. The gold ones are for those who served from the village and the red ones represent those who died. An excellent idea.
The website is at http://www.standrewsmuchhadham.org.uk/index.php/st-mary-the-virgin-albury and this gives good visitor information.
St. Mary the Virgin, Albury
I found St. Mary’s open. It is another church with the Hertfordshire ‘spike’ on it – a spirelet really but characteristic of this area. What is most interesting about St. Mary’s is inside. There is a walk around guide and some notelets for sale as well as a history booklet. These are all common but here, under the tower, is a good display about the First World War. It gives a lot of detail about some of the local people who fought, and died, in that conflict. It also puts it into context. A lot of work has gone into this. There is a rather odd war memorial here which is designed like an altar. I haven’t seen anything quite like this before.
There is also a prayer board and a sand tray to light candles. ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ also appears too. The website – http://www.standrewsmuchhadham.org.uk/index.php/st-mary-the-virgin-albury doesn’t mention the WW1 display nor give visitor information which is a shame.
St. Cecilia, Little Hadham
A delightful church which is open. There was a guide for £1 and some 12 people had signed the visitors book in July. One thing I liked here was a folder which contained lots of orders of service from funerals which have taken place here, going back several years. A nice idea. There was the usual ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ book open. This is almost universal in the churches of Herts. There is a village tapestry here which is worth studying. Also, a prayer request board and an open bible. The website at http://www.standrewsmuchhadham.org.uk/index.php/st-cecillia-s-little-hadham proudly says that ‘We keep the Church open 365 days of the year, so that visitors can come and enjoy the prayerful atmosphere of this 900 year old building.’
St. Andrew’s, Much Hadham
St. Andrew’s was open. It is shared with a Roman Catholic congregation which know it as Holy Cross. This is slightly confusing for visitors as there is a mixture of signs here. Be that as it may, it is a lovely church to visit. I found some post cards for sale as well as a church guide and some RC booklets. There is a book to enter prayers into and a votive stand to light candles. A bible was open as well. The diocesan ‘Saints and Pilgrims’ book was displayed as well.
This is a very well kept church. The website, http://www.standrewsmuchhadham.org.uk which proudly says’St Andrews Much Hadham is open for visitors from dawn until dusk every day of the year. You are welcome to visit our beautiful church at any time.’ Worth a look at. I will leave you with some pictures.
St. Botolph’s, Eastwick
It was a shame that I found this church locked. It is a pretty church in a pretty village. There were no details of when it was open or a key holder. Rather bizarrely the notice board outside had a schedule of services at the nearby St. Mary’s Gilston (also locked) but nothing about St. Botolph’s. This does’nt exactly attract people who might like to come along to a service here.
There is a website which covers this benefice see – http://www.stjameshighwych.org.uk but this doesn’t say anything about visiting.
All rather disappointing .
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