Faith Features

Nettleden is a real treasure . It's the kind of hamlet that features on boxes of chocolates. It's on a Roman road which links it to the neighbouring hamlet of Frithsden. Although only four miles from Hemel Hempstead it represents the kind of rural idyll in which most of us could only dream of living.

St Lawrence's Church in Nettleden.

Our ancestors bequeathed Nettleden a simple yet beautiful church. St Lawrence dates back to the Middle ages and has a rustic simplicity which is it's charm.

I was told by the vicar John Kirkby that he was only expecting five or six worshippers for my visit. Despite the predicted Bank holiday monsoon, the word must have spread because the congregation reached a heady fifteen. Following the traditional matins service , the acoustic of the church has created a charming sound.

Years ago St Lawrence's will have been filled with farm workers and their families. Today the surviving cottages have been turned into very desirable houses so the population has changed and not everybody attends the church apart from the annual Carol Concert. Here the Nettleden Carol is sung: A joint effort by the village children during the war.

The villagers do support the church as they couldn't envisage the village without it. Twenty years ago they funded roof repairs and now they are raising money for further much needed repairs. Frithsden has the pub, Nettleden the church and without each rural life becomes the poorer.

Economically a church like Frithsden makes no business sense whatsoever.Yet the percentage of the village attending church is above the national average for the Church Of England. The dedication of John Kirkby who also is in charge at Potten End means there is a service every week. He is on the starting blocks at Nettleden to make his 10:30 at Potten End.

John has never been late for a service. However he is due to retire soon and changes in the way Nettleden is staffed will almost definitely see a reduction in Eucharist services. As soon as people have to wonder whether there's a service or not , attendances could fall.

Meanwhile the parishioners at Nettleden are to look at ways in which the church can better serve the community. Rural churches are part of the English countryside. Their survival is a labour of love and dedication as well as real financial commitment.