St Mary the Virgin and All Saints, Potters Bar - About Us

Other activities

Special annual services: St Mary’s is the venue for the Royal British Legion Remembrance Day service, All Souls’ Day Requiem (when we invite the relatives of those whose funerals have been conducted by the clergy during that year), Advent Procession, Christingle, Crib and Carol services, full Holy Week liturgies, St George’s Day Parade Service and Potters Bar Town-Twinning Service. The civic role of St Mary’s has been particularly emphasized when Father Peter has been Chaplain to the Mayor of Hertsmere on two occasions.

Overseas Mission: The parish supports the work of Muheza Hospital in Tanzania (through USPG), CMS, Christian Aid, Children’s Society etc. During the last three years, we have developed a link with a parish in the Gambia (Christ Church, Serrekunda), thanks to a member of our congregation, Mrs Janet Daniels. Fundraising for the church and their schools is ongoing, and we have welcomed clergy from Serrekunda to our Parish Communion.

Music: There is a strong musical tradition, with an RSCM-affiliated choir. There are monthly lunchtime organ and instrumental recitals in the church, which has fine acoustics. The church is a sought-after venue for other concerts, e.g. Potters Bar Choral Society, Barnet Choral Society and the Hertfordshire Chorus have used the church in recent years. Local schools (e.g., Dame Alice Owens, Cranborne and St John’s School) also use the church regularly for musical events.

Links with the wider church

There is considerable co-operation and goodwill with all the denominations in the town, through the “Churches Together in Potters Bar” and its Ministers’ Fellowship. All three members of the ministry team are involved in this co-operation, which includes officiating at services (especially at holiday times), pulpit exchanges, songs of praise and Taize services, joint Lent courses, joint social action etc. Lay representatives from St Mary’s serve on the local committees of Christian Aid, the Children’s Society and Potters Bar Fellowship of Service.

Both Father Peter and Richard Osborn serve on the Deanery Synod Standing Committee – Richard as Deanery Treasurer and Acting Deanery Secretary. Father Peter is on the Diocesan Synod. Richard is the Area Secretary for Readers for the Deaneries of Barnet and Aldenham, and serves on the Diocesan Readers’ Committee.

Our Choral Director, Mr Geoff Follett, serves as a lay chaplain to the Potters Bar Fire and Ambulance Stations, the Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Chiltern Air Support Unit.

Clergy Housing

The four-bedroomed vicarage, built in 1991, situated a short distance from the church, has a substantial garden, and an excellent independent study and garage.

The curate’s house is a semi-detached three-bedroomed 1960’s property in Otways Close, also very close to the church. It has recently been redecorated by church members and will be let through a local estate agent very shortly.