This year St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden's annual meeting takes place on Tuesday 12th May at 7pm. This will start with the Annual Meeting of Parishioners, including the election of Churchwardens, followed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. This will take place online via Microsoft Teams: 

Dear Brothers & Sisters at Holy Trinity, Prestwood & St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden,

I want to say a big, big, thank you to you all for the wonderful send-off you gave to Irene and myself last Friday evening as I begin retirement. It was anything but ‘low-key’ but I don’t think that’s a word known to SEARCH, our lovely catering team!

I was taken aback by the number of you who came to wish me well, and for the messages (and bottles!) I have received. Thank you for your gifts of the superb Stations of the Cross book and the painting of Holy Trinity, and for the beautiful Curcuma plant given to Irene. The painting will hang in my study, wherever that might turn out to be!

It has been one of the highlights of my life to be able to serve you as Ordinand, Curate and Associate Priest for nearly 10 years. You have encouraged me so much and it’s hard to leave so many friends. Quite what retirement will hold is still unknown but as I head off into the sunset, I go with countless memories of you all and the love you have shown me.

My prayers for you all will continue as you prepare to welcome The Reverend Michelle Fotherby as the next Rector in a few months’ time. A new chapter in the life of the Benefice awaits. May God bless you richly in all that lies ahead.

Nigel

In appreciation of Nigel Spoor’s work, and in line with his wishes, there will be no retirement collection. However, for those who would like to mark the occasion with a charitable donation, Nigel has chosen to support the Nazareth Community at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

If you would like to contribute, please visit:
https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/give/

On the donation page, look for the option to direct your gift to the “Nazareth Community” and follow the instructions provided.

Kindly ensure that your donation is made specifically to the Nazareth Community, rather than the Companions of Nazareth.

We are delighted to be hosting a very special musical event at St Mary Magdalene Church, Great Hampden.

Join us for Mid-Morning Magic with Horn & Harp on Thursday 21st May, 11:00am - 12.00pm. Internationally acclaimed horn player Ben Goldscheider will be joined by harpist Olivia Jageurs for a captivating programme showcasing the beautiful combination of French horn and harp.

Tickets are £15. The concert will last approximately one hour, with coffee and cake available during the event. We warmly encourage our community to attend and enjoy this unique and uplifting musical experience. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here

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.

For the next in our Why series we will be joined by Margot and Martin Hodson to explore Environmental Theology on Tuesday 28th April 2026, 7.30pm at HTP. Both work at The John Ray Initiative. The Reverend Margot Hodson is focused on teaching and researching how faith, community and the environment connect. She is associate tutor for Environmental Theology at Ripon College, Cuddesdon and All Nations Christian College. Martin Hodson is a plant scientist and environmental biologist, and a former Principal Lecturer, and now Visiting Researcher at Oxford Brookes University.

It is time to review the Electoral Roll for St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden. Being on the roll allows a person to attend the Annual Parochial Meeting on Tuesday 12th May 2026 and to take part in the proceedings. If you are not on the current roll and would like to join, printed blank forms may be obtained by emailing the Church Office, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or leaving a phone message on 01494 863805. Alternatively, an electronic copy is available here: Form-1-Application-for-enrolment-church-electoral-roll.pdf which can also be emailed to the Church Office. If you are currently on the roll there is nothing you need do.

All forms need to be returned by Sunday 26th April 2026 for you to be included on the new roll. Forms must be posted to the Church Office at the following address: 134 Wycombe Road, Prestwood, Great Missenden, HP16 0HJ. 

• 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. 

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. At present, we are unable to say when Michelle will be moving to the Benefice. However, we will keep you updated as plans develop and details are finalised.

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.

Thank you so much to everyone has donated to our 2026 Lent Appeal - we are so happy to anounce that we exceeded our target and have raised £5000 for Bucks Mind and Siyabulela Pre-school, South Africa!

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. 

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. 

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.