Search

Type your text, and hit enter to search:
Close This site uses cookies. If you continue to use the site you agree to this. For more details please see our cookies policy.

Swifts at St Andrew's  (960 × Swifts at St Andrew's 

In May 2022, 12 swift boxes were installed in the belfry at St Andrew's

Gavin Vicary installing swift We were approached by Gavin Vicary (North East Herts Swifts) and Clive Fleming (Hertford Swifts Group) in 2021 about installing swift boxes on or in the church, in particular the idea of belfry boxes - these sit behind louvres and can be very successful way of providing for a colony to build (they also do not affect the look or fabric of the church so can make approvals easier to get). Amazingly, swifts are oblivious to the sound of bells!

We were, of course, very enthusiastic about the idea and helped to get approval from the Diocese for 12 boxes to be installed. Gavin kindly offered to build and install the boxes at St Andrew's and so, as you can see in the photo to the right, the work took place up in the belfry (a long day in a tricky working environment among the bells!). A call player was also installed. Gavin put inspection doors on the boxes so that we can look inside and see if they have been used after the nesting season is over. There were Swifts flying and calling all around the Church through the day so the signs are good.

Saint Andrew Street has always been a good spot to watch Swifts in Hertford and has still had some birds nesting in recent years. The hope now is that we will see even more swifts in and around St Andrew's Church - so keep your eyes peeled!
 

Action for swifts

Learn more about swifts, how you can help and what Herts Wildlife Trust is doing:
https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/actionforswifts


Swift Walks in Hertford

For information about the walks taking places around the town to spot swifts, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/HertfordSwifts 

Glenys
Hello and welcome to St Andrew's. If you are new, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello 

No one belongs here more than you.

We look forward to meeting you! Here's some information so that if you're planning a visit you know beforehand what to expect on a Sunday morning.  We have other pages telling you more About Us, our approach to Faith and our Online services.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details below) for our main Sunday Service starting at 10.30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you find a parking space and can settle in before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Plan your journey:
While, unfortunately, St Andrew's does not have its own carpark, there is a council-run pay and display carpark a short distance along St Andrew Street, to the east of the church; there is a £1.50 flat-rate charge for parking in this carpark on Sundays (though half an hour or less is free).

This is a useful East Herts Council website page for full details of parking in Hertford.

There are single yellow lines outside the church with parking restrictions, but some 30-minute parking bays are situated on the opposite side of the road for short stays (longer on Sundays).

Open Google Maps

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is a disabled toilet towards the back of the church, behind the kitchen.

Our Service

The service will usually begin promptly at 10.30am and will last between 60 and 75 minutes. We enjoy the presence of an excellent choir who help us sing hymns (modern and traditional) as well as provide anthems and special songs through the period of communion. We have a traditional organ but also benefit from music played on the piano and by our band (eg on the Second Sunday of each month when we have an All-Age Service in which our children and young people are fully involved).

Each 10.30am service includes a sermon, prayers and eucharist.

After the service, everyone is invited for coffee and conversation - some like to stay for a quick chat while others remain in the church for a longer time.

Communion

Children and Young People

Children are never too young to come to church. You and your children are very welcome at St Andrew’s. 

We really value worshipping God together as a family, so children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service before being invited to leave for the young people's activities after the first hymn. Junior Church meets in the St Andrew's Centre (our adjoining hall), accessed through the church on Sunday mornings. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy.

The children and young people then return to the main service in time to join the eucharist and, if confirmed, take Holy Communion or, if not, receive a blessing. We offer a grape or a little box of raisins to children being blessed at the altar.

There is a Children's Corner in church where you can go at any time. You will find books, toys and drawing materials there.

Toilet and baby-change facilities are located at the back of church, behind the kitchen.

There's lots more information here: Children and Young People at St Andrew's

Junior Church celebration

Getting Connected


Home Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week. Check out Home Groups on our website and see if there’s one that you could join. Alternatively, speak to a member of the Welcome Team who will give you the information that you need.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. Please contact Phil in the Church Office.

Get in touch with us
If you have any questions, please do get in touch. You'll find our contact details here.

We hope that you will feel at home at our church.