Benefice Notices

• 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 7.30pm. 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.

• Community News from Road Farm Countryways CIC

  Holy Trinity and St. Mary Magdalene are pleased to support the work of Road Farm Countryways CIC by sharing details of their community activities and events. As our very own Make Lunch visits Road Farm twice each year, we are delighted to help promote opportunities that support families, wellbeing, learning, and community connections across our area. See below for details:

   

  Pop-Up Open Farm Sunday

  To celebrate the opening of the new cycleway between Great Missenden and Wendover, Road Farm will host a small-scale Open Farm Sunday event featuring farming information, environmental activities, goats, bees, demonstrations, refreshments, and opportunities to meet the farmer.

  Date: Sunday 14 June
  Time: 12.30pm–4.00pm
  Location: Along the cycleway at the bridge crossing to Road Farm.

   

  Drop In & Grow

  A welcoming community gardening group helping to care for the polytunnel and orchard. Open to everyone, whether you're an experienced gardener or a complete beginner.

  Dates: 6 & 20 July; 14 & 28 September (August dates to be confirmed)
  Time: 1.30pm–3.00pm
  Cost: Free
  Please note that children and anyone requiring support must be accompanied by a responsible adult or PA.

   

  Kindred Countryside

  An intergenerational after-school club for one child (aged 8+) and one older family member to enjoy together. Activities include growing food, sharing countryside memories, wellbeing, and learning together.

  Dates: 25 June, 2 July, 9 July & 16 July
  Time: 4.30pm–6.00pm
  Cost: £20 per family (2 people) for the four-week course.

   

  Countrymen

  A fortnightly club for men aged 55+ with an interest in farming, gardening, and the countryside. Gentle outdoor activities, conversation, homemade cakes, and tea. Booking is essential. Suggested contribution: £10 per session.

   

  For bookings and further information, visit Road Farm Countryways CIC or contact office.rfcountryways@gmail.com / 01494 862413.

• Help Make Our Bottle Tombola a Success! | Prestfest June 2026 | HTP

  A huge thank you to everyone who has already donated bottles for our tombola. This is an important fundraiser for Holy Trinity, raising well over £500 for much-needed church funds last year.

  There is still time to contribute if you are able to donate a bottle or two next week. The more bottles we have, the more prizes we can offer and the more money we can raise to support the work and ministry of the church.

  We also need volunteers to help run the stall on the day. If you could spare even an hour between 10am and 5pm on Saturday 20th June, please speak to Barbara. Your help would make a real difference.

  As well as raising valuable funds, the event gives Holy Trinity a wonderful opportunity to be present in the community and to engage with local people. Thank you for any support you can offer.

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• Join our Kiva Team

  

  More than 1.7 billion people around the world are unbanked and can’t access the financial services they need. Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 in San Francisco, with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. They do this by crowdfunding loans and unlocking capital for the underserved, improving the quality and cost of financial services, and addressing the underlying barriers to financial access around the world. Through Kiva's work, students can pay for tuition, women can start businesses, farmers are able to invest in equipment and families can afford needed emergency care.

  We have had a team on Kiva for about ten years. In that time we have:

  • Loaned over $20,000.00
  • Made 875 different loans

  Currently there are 15 team members. You can be one of them! By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, you can be part of the solution and make a real difference in someone’s life. 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans.

  Follow the link on the website or scan the QR code and you too can Join our team today!

• HTP in the News

  Great to see the work of Holy Trinity, Prestwood featured on the BBC News website, alongside our village schools and council services. Our amazing Family Suport Worker, Fran McLean spearheads our fantastic team of volunteers who do so much work in the community, just some of which is referenced here.

  Cost of living: The hidden poverty in England's least deprived area - BBC News