Religion

Sawbridgeworth Evangelical Congregational Church is holding a Christmas carols event with local schools and a performing arts group.

New vicar of Great St Mary's, Fr Simon Vivian, revealed wreaths would be laid over the days leading up to Armistice Day "without fanfare".

Abi Roberts called for a doorstep carols event after the pandemic put paid to Sawbridgeworth and District Rotary Club’s Carols On Fair Green.

In a series of virtual assemblies, pupils learned from different year groups and showcased their creative work.

The Rev Simon Vivian, a 49-year-old father of two, has been inducted to the Church of Great St Mary’s.

A party from the Benedictine abbey quizzed St Mary's volunteers on their work and how they engage the community.

Derek and Pauline Hinge will mark the occasion with a meal – after meeting up with his best man and his wife, who married a fortnight before them!

Bell-ringers follow central guidance restricting numbers in the bell tower and sticking to the same rope.

Daring duo drew a crowd as they returned old cockerel atop Tudor tower of 13th-century Great St Mary's after it had snapped in a storm.

Cllr Norma Symonds is a long-standing supporter of the 85-year-old Tibetan Buddhism leader and his people.

A network of over 1,000 churches from over 40 different denominations has established a national call centre open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.

The helpline has been extended to include Spellbrook, High Wych, Eastwick, Gilston and Allens Green and there is now a freephone number.

Great St Mary’s associate minister Rev Debbie Hoare is due to broadcast services online on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Clive Weir said: "Ultimately it doesn’t matter if our buildings are closed because the real church is not a building but a community of people.”

Some churches will remain open as a place of prayer and contact, but with signage reminding visitors to remain two metres apart.

Lessons learned from national tragedies such as the Grenfell fire and Manchester terror bombing are behind the programme.

The Twyford Road church has asked East Herts Council for planning permission to convert a redundant storage unit.

Former Hockerill and St Mary's student Michael, now 35, has contributed to prayer booklet being used by Bishop's Stortford church to help addicts.

Leave.EU's suggestion that 'leaving the EU is in any way equivalent to the Allies' victory in Europe in 1945' is 'deeply abhorrent' and 'offensive'.

Nativity scenes by community groups, businesses and charities on show at Methodists' Crib Festival while Holy Trinity stages Christmas Tree Festival.