News from St John's Church, Southdown

Church Centenary

The present St John’s Church dates back to 1908 and succeeded an earlier building known as the “Paper Church”, which was destroyed by fire. It was designed by FC Eden - although a well known architect (he specialised in restoring Churches to an ornate style), he only designed two churches - the other is St George the Martyr at Wash Common, Newbury. St John's is very much the exception in his designs, being to a very simple design.

Initially a daughter church in the parish of St Nicholas, St John’s became a parish ("Harpenden St John") in its own right in 1936.

From the earliest days, St John’s has always been rooted firmly in the sacramental tradition and was one of the first Churches in the Diocese to adopt the Parish Communion as its principal Sunday service.

For a hundred years St John's has been a place where generations of people have come to worship God and to receive his grace in times of joy and sorrow. We are sharing our joy and thankfulness for the last century with the wider community of our Parish in our Centenary Celebrations which peak in June with:
June 20th - 22nd Flower Festival.
'A Century in Flowers', with 'Music & Poetry for a Summer Evening' in the Church on the evening of Saturday 21 June

June 24th St John the Baptist's Day.
To mark the burning of the 'Paper' Church and in thanksgiving for those who initiated the new building, the Bishop of St Albans will lead us in procession across Harpenden Common from the site of the first church building to the present day church, where we will celebrate the Patronal Festival Eucharist

June 28th Centenary Fiesta Day.
A church fete of grand proportion to take place on the Grove School playing field to share our celebrations with the people of Southdown

June 29th Songs of Praise. A special afternoon service for the whole Community

For more information about these events, visit the St John's website or contact the church office (details on the 'Churches' page)

Clergy Changes

St John's has a large team of people who, under the leadership of Rev Jonathan Smith, offer their individual commitments and enthusiasms and together seek to fulfil the calling to honour the name of God and make his love known. Ministerially there is a team of three Clergy and three Readers who share in the responsibility of ordering worship, preaching, teaching and offering pastoral care. This Autumn there is to be a change to this ministerial team. The Reverend Mary Monk, who serves as Assistant Priest, is to retire. Mary is not moving away and will still be part of the fellowship and officiate occasionally, but will no longer hold the Bishop's Licence. Mary came to Harpenden in 1999 having been ordained in the Diocese of Southwark and serving in the parish of The Good Shepherd with St Peter, Lee. Quickly she established herself and her ministry has been one of quiet distinction. Mary was brought up in a clergy household and her late husband, Ron, was also ordained and the principles of Christian service are enshrined within her. Many, many people have occasion to thank God and be enormously grateful for Mary's priestly ministry. Her thoughtfulness, diligence and prayerfulness have been most manifest in her unstinting and excellent pastoral care. As a colleague and team player, Mary has always given absolute commitment and loyalty and the leadership is enormously appreciative and grateful for her support and encouragement. We wish her a happy and fulfilling retirement and rejoice that she is continuing to be a part of the fellowship of St Johns.

On 30th September St John's welcomes the Reverend Charles Burch as the new Assistant Curate. Charles will have been ordained as deacon the previous Sunday in St Albans Cathedral. Ministerially, Charles has recently served as Reader in the church of St Helen's, Wheathampstead and we look forward to sharing in the process of his ministerial development and to him exercising his considerable gifts and abilities at St John's.

Please do hold Mary and Charles in your thoughts and prayers as they both face significant moments in their lives and ministries.

(information from St John's website)

New Role for Jonathan Smith

The Rev Jonathan Smith, Vicar of St John's, is to be the next Archdeacon of St Albans. With 28 years experience of ordained ministry including a period as Chaplain of City University in London, he has worked in the Diocese of St Albans for the past 20 years in rural Bedfordshire and suburban Hertfordshire and has been Chaplain to Bedfordshire Police, a Rural Dean and Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Patronage.

Jonathan is well known in Harpenden for his community involvement, including refereeing in a youth football league and amateur acting. He says: "There are some similarities between an archdeacon and a referee. Both are about allowing people to get on with an exhilerating and wonderful task: whether that is playing football or changing lives with the message of the gospel. The key is to know when to stop play and when to play on."

(from SeeRound, May 2008)

Jonathan is currently busy working on the Centenary celebrations (above). Why not visit St John's this summer and wish him well in his new role.