Welcome back as we begin a new year together. I hope that over the Christmas season, alongside all the joy and busyness of services and celebrations, you found time for rest and replenishment with friends and family.
Thank you for the warm invitation you demonstrated in welcoming people during Advent and Christmas. From carols sung in peaceful churches, to those ringing out in packed pubs and parks, and even dog-friendly gatherings, through to Christingle and crib services bringing light and joy, we celebrated the birth of Jesus in so many creative and heartfelt ways.
As we journey through 2026, let’s continue to nurture those connections and share the hope of Christ in every season.
With every blessing for this new year,
+Jane
Bishop of Hertford
Prayer for our next Bishop of St Albans
The interviews for the next Bishop of St Albans will be held on 20-21 January. We invite you to join us in praying for those being interviewed and those involved in the process, for discernment, clarity and for God’s guidance in all. Please do share this with your congregations and be praying together as church communities over the next two Sundays with us, thank you.
Generous God, we pray for our Diocese of St Albans.
As we continue this journey of discernment for our new bishop, bless all involved with wisdom and grace.
Be with those being interviewed for this ministry, with those making decisions, and with all who lead and serve us at this time.
In this shared discernment, and always, draw us deeper into your love, that we may live it with joy and courage for your world.
In the name, and for the sake, of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
For more information about the timeline and what happens after the interviews, you can read more on our ‘Vacancy in See’ page on the website.
Ad Clerum update for Youth and Children’s and Families Workers
New guidance is available for the safer recruitment of paid youth and children’s and families Workers. When a PCC is employing a children’s, families or youth worker, they must refer to this new guidance, updated January 2026.
The new document is titled ‘Ad Clerum 1.8 Recruitment of Paid Youth and Children’s and Families Workers’ and is available through the link below.
Bishop Richard marks 40 years of ministry
In an interview released over the Christmas break, we marked Bishop Richard celebrating 40 years of ordained ministry.
One of Bishop Richard’s roles is the Chair of the Committee for the ministry of and among Deaf and Disabled People (CMDDP) and the Disability Task Group. With this in mind, we asked: ‘How can parishes think creatively about inclusion beyond physical access?’. He replied:
“Listen, listen, listen. Take time to listen to people to hear what the issues and barriers are and be ready to see things from a different perspective. As with any area of inclusion, look at the statistics, do an audit, ask who is missing? And then humbly and prayerfully ask: what do we need to find out? What does this mean for us as a church? What does inclusion really look like?”
Daily Prayer Diary
Each quarter we release a new daily prayer diary for the Diocese. The current one runs from January to March 2026, and is available for download in either an A4 version or A5 booklet.