Benefice Notices

• Musical Showcase | Sunday 14th June

  Prestwood Creative Hub will be hosting a Musical Showcase at Holy Trinity, Prestwood on Sunday 14 June from 2–3pm as part of Prestwood’s Big Week celebrations. The event will feature performances from Little Strummers, musical theatre youth groups, the Luminotes vocal group, youth choirs, and solo ukulele and guitar acts, alongside community singalong favourites. Tickets cost £5 for adults, £2 for children, or £10 for a family of up to five, with booking available via https://www.htprestwood.org.uk/thebigweekconcert 

• Lent Appeal | Thanks from Siyabulela

  The Lent Appeal at Holy Trinity Prestwood raised an outstanding £5,260, with £2,630 donated towards Siyabulela’s outdoor classroom flooring project in South Africa. Alta from Siyabulela sent the following message of thanks:

  " What wonderful news to get on a Monday morning! I've been very excited about this project since we started and so grateful that you helped us to get it all going and willing to continue helping us to go on with the project. It has been life changing having that piece of artificial grass and rubberised road for the children to play on. The flooring for the outside classroom will make such a big difference as well. Thank you so much for the donation. It still amazes me how people all over the world get involved in a little pre-school here in South Africa."

• Patronal Festival | 31st May | 10.30am

  Please join us for fizz and cakes following the Patronal Festival service on 31st May at 10:30am. As both Holy Trinity and St. Mary Magdalene congregations will be coming together for this special celebration, it would be wonderful if as many people as possible were able to stay after the service to continue the celebrations together. Everyone is warmly welcome.

• Save the Date | Hampden Ensemble Concert | Sunday 13th September

  Following the wonderful success of last year’s concert, we’re delighted to announce that another special evening of music is coming to St Mary Magdalene Church, Great Hampden.

  The Hampden Ensemble will be returning for what promises to be another memorable performance. Thanks to the incredible support from everyone who attended last year, we raised just over £1,500 - a fantastic achievement for our church community.

  We very much hope you’ll join us again this year, so please make sure to save the date! Further details, including how to purchase tickets, will be shared soon. Thank you once again to everyone who supported last year’s event - we look forward to seeing you there in September.

• Why should we be cautious about AI? | Tuesday, 23rd June | 7.30pm

  The next in our Why? series is Why should we be cautious about AI? This will take place in Holy Trinity, Prestwood, Tuesday 23rd June at 7pm. We are thrilled to be welcoming Dafydd Russell-Jones to help us explore this topic. We will explore the challenges/problems posed by AI, aswell as the potential to bring about positive changes in our world, emphasising that AI has the potential to damage our humanity, as well as protect and preserve our humanity, depending on how we use it and the value we give it. 

  Dafydd comes at this topic with a background as a Geographer teacher, MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology and a MA in Theological studies where his comprehensive paper focused on ethics in a technological society.

• iKnow Church | New IT System

  We are currently in the process of transitioning to a new IT system - iKnow Church. We have been using part of this system to manage baptisms, weddings and funerals since 2024 and are now moving other systems over too. This includes the old people database, but also streamlining aspects of our administration that rely on multiple spreadsheets. The next planned switch is the service planner, including accompanying rotas. The spreadsheets will continue to be functional until further notice, however you may notice that you start receiving emails from iKnow - in particular reminding you of an upcoming commitment. At this stage don't worry about them, and don't worry if you don't get one but believe you should. The switch will be staged, with different groups coming onboard at different points. Those that need will be invited to training as required. We hope that this change will create greater visibility for everyone and streamline a lot of our processes. 

  As with any IT system development there will be teething problems, Jo and Kayleigh are working on these as and when they become apparent so please bear with us whilst we get this going. Often we have to do more work before we notice the benefits.

• Appointment of Reverend Michelle Fotherby | Update

  We are pleased to announce that Rev Michelle Fotherby will be licensed by the Bishop of Buckingham on Sunday 6th September 2026 at 6pm Holy Trinity Prestwood.

• Lighthouse needs you!

  Lighthouse Missenden (LHM) needs a Data Protection Officer (DPO) - can you help or do you know someone who can?

  We are looking for a volunteer to take on the role of DPO, as an advisor to the trustees, to take on the following tasks:

  • to inform and advise LHM about their obligations to comply with the UK GDPR and other data protection laws;
  • to monitor compliance with the UK GDPR and other data protection laws, and with LHM data protection polices, including managing internal data protection activities; raising awareness of data protection issues, training volunteers and conducting internal audits where necessary;
  • to advise on, and to monitor, data protection impact assessments;
  • to cooperate with the ICO; and
  • to be the first point of contact for the ICO.

  No need to attend Lighthouse week in the summer holidays in person; report to Trustees in writing or in person. Interested? For further information please contact bettina.gothard@lighthousemissenden.org.uk

• Wendover Arts Festival - May 2026

  We are delighted to support St Mary’s Church, Wendover, in celebrating the return of the Wendover Arts Festivalfor 2026.

   

  The 2nd Wendover Arts Festival will take place from Saturday 23rd May to Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2026. Following the wonderful success of last year (raising just under £20,000 for the church), this year promises to be another vibrant and inspiring event. Over 90 talented artists will be exhibiting a wide range of work, including paintings, glassware, ceramics, sculpture, pottery, and jewellery, all set within the beautiful surroundings of St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Wendover, HP22 6NL.

   

  If you would like to arrange a group visit, you are warmly invited to enjoy refreshments during your time at the festival. Options include a Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s or Gala pie lunch with all the trimmings (£8.50), or a Cream Tea (£4.00). Discounts may be available for group bookings depending on numbers. A bar will also be open, serving prosecco, wine, and beer.

  

   

  In addition, you are warmly invited to a special Preview Night taking place on Friday 22nd May 2026, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at St Mary’s Church. Guests will be welcomed with a complimentary drink on arrival, and hot food will be available to purchase; an excellent opportunity to enjoy the exhibition ahead of the main festival.

   

  To book a group visit or for further information, please contact deborahhale58@yahoo.com. You can also find more details on the festival website:

  www.wendover-arts-festival.co.uk

   

  The venue offers ample parking, disabled access, and toilet facilities for your convenience. We very much hope you will join us in supporting this wonderful event.

• Upcoming Service Support | HTP

  Following Nigel’s retirement on Sunday 19th April, we will becoming a single clergy Benefice. There has been some discussion on how we manage this for the next few months. In order to support Kayleigh, and allow her the time needed for ongoing study as she finishes her training, we have agreed the following:

   

  • The Wednesday service will be suspended as this often coincides with school assemblies and other commitments and therefore was likely to be regularly cancelled. 
  • Morning Prayer will take place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only. 
  • More visiting preachers/priests will be joining us as the recommendation from Kayleigh’s tutors and supervisor is to preach only twice a month. 

   

  We hope that this will be sustainable as we navigate the next few months, however please check the calendar on our website, Facebook or the Weekly Herald for an up to date schedule.

   

• Appointment of Rector to the Benefice of Prestwood, Great Kingshill and Great Hampden

  Following interviews held on Monday, 16th March 2026, we are pleased to announce that the Bishop of Buckingham, the Right Rev’d Dave Bull, has offered Rev’d Michelle Fotherby the position of Rector of the Benefice. Michelle has accepted the offer. Michelle currently serves as Assistant Curate at St Mary's Amersham with All Saints', Coleshill.

  UPDATE:

  We are pleased to announce that Rev Michelle Fotherby will be licensed by the Bishop of Buckingham on Sunday 6^th September 2026 at 6pm Holy Trinity Prestwood.

   

  Michelle writes the following message to us all:

   

  ‘I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as your new Rector, and I’m really looking forward to all that lies ahead as we begin this new chapter together. When I came for the interview, I was struck by the warmth of your welcome and the strong sense of community among you. It was clear to me that there is a great deal of love and faith here, and I feel very privileged to be joining you. I’m also so encouraged by all that you have continued to sustain during the vacancy.

  As we begin Holy Week and walk again the path that Jesus took, I want you to know that I will be holding you in my prayers, even before I arrive, as we remember all that He has done for us. 

  My two teenage boys and I are really looking forward to getting to know you, to worshipping together with you, and to sharing in the life of the church as we seek to follow God and share His love in this place.’

   

  Please keep Michelle, George and Henry in your prayers as they prepare to move to our churches.

• News and Notices

  Here you can find the news and notices for what is currently going on in our churches. For up to date information on our current vacancy for Rector of Prestwood and Great Hampden, please visit our designated page: Vacancy Updates. 

• Volunteers Needed

  We are in need of some volunteers to help at three of our weekly clubs. The more volunteers we have - the less often you are likely to need to do it. 

  This includes:

  Sparks Club | Mondays, 11.45am - 12.45pm | Prestwood Infant School 

  Light Club | Thursdays, 12.15pm - 1.15pm | Prestwood Junior School

  Toy Library | Thursdays, 9.30am - 1pm | The Annexe

  If you would like to help with any of these then please speak to Frances. 

• Support our work with Acts 435

  We work in the community with Acts 435. Acts 435 is a giving website that allows people to give money directly to others, and 100% of what is donated via Acts 435 goes directly to those in need. When so many people need so much help giving to charities and good causes can sometimes feel overwhelming and hard. Acts 435 puts people who want to help in touch with people who are in need, through a network of churches and local charities. Acts 435 enables virtual, online giving for specific needs.

  If you would like to be notified by email when a local Acts 435 is made by us, please let one of the clergy know.

• Eco Church Bronze Award for Holy Trinity

  After a thorough audit and the submission of our paperwork to the A Rocha Eco Church Awards Scheme Holy Trinity, Prestwood has been awarded the Bronze Eco Church Award. This scheme is our church's primary means of addressing the climate crisis through the PCC's Climate Strategy. We are now working on achieving the next-level Silver Award.

  Help us respond faithfully to the climate and nature crises! Join us in reaching the Silver Award!

  • Community and Global Engagement—Transforming local and global communities and ecosystems
  • Buildings—Finding energy efficient and innovative ways to manage our places of worship
  • Land—Nurturing spaces for people and nature
  • Lifestyle—Living joyfully and sustainably as followers of Christ
  • Worship and Teaching—Embedding creation care in worship, prayer and learning