Welcome to the Benefice of

 St. Mary Henlow and St. Andrew Langford 

From the Vicar

These two ancient villages lie just to the south of Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, alongside the quietly flowing River Ivel. Both parishes have a history as farming, and more recently, market gardening communities although today they are largely commuter villages for London, Stevenage, Bedford, etc.

The two parishes, which are Crown appointments, were brought together by Royal Assent in 1997. 

You will  be able to discover more about the individual parishes by clicking on St Mary’s or St Andrew’s.

The web site was launched in June 2003 and we are hoping to add many more pages in the future. Please visit us often to see new developments.

In your prayers this week, please pray for:

Anglican Church leaders gathering for the Lambeth Conference and for our worldwide Communion of Churches.

Those to be married:

Those suffering:  Doreen Currell, Jean Greenwood, Norma Jewell, Florence Emery, Howard Rigney, Pam Cousins, Jessie Child, Rev Phil Snelson, Les Barnes and Jamie Dear.

Those in residential homes: Audrey Field.

Those who have died:  Jessie Teasdale, Kathleen Lopes and Leslie Barnes.

Feature of the Month

St. Swithun  - July 15

Swithun was Bishop of Winchester in the ninth century, though little is known of his life. He was bishop for ten years and appears to have been the trusted adviser of Egbert, his king in Wessex. He had asked to be buried 'humbly' and not in a great shrine and, when he died on 2 July 862, his request was fulfilled. However, when a new cathedral was being built, Ethelwold, the new bishop, decided to move Swithun's remains into a shrine in the cathedral, despite dire warnings that to move the bones would bring about terrible storms. He was duly translated on this day in the year 971 and, though many cures were claimed and other miracles observed, it apparently rained for forty days, as forecast. Thus the feast-day of Swithun became synonymous with long, summer storms, rather than as an occasion for celebrating Christian simplicity and holiness.

Prayer

Almighty God, by whose grace we celebrate again
the feast of your servant Swithun:
grant that, as he governed with gentleness
the people committed to his care,
so we, rejoicing in our Christian inheritance,
may always seek to build up your Church in unity and love;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Reading

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.

Proverbs 3. 1-8