Category Archives: Fundraising

Harvest Festival – Sunday 14th September

As the golden fields ripple in the late summer breeze and the scent of ripening crops fills the air, it’s time to come together once more for a cherished tradition: the Harvest Festival.

Taking place on Sunday 14th September, this joyful event unites the three villages in a celebration of community, gratitude and the rich bounty of our local land. Whether you’ve lived here for years or are new to the area, this is a day not to be missed.

A Morning of Reflection and Thanks
The festival begins with a Harvest Thanksgiving Service at 11am at St James’ Church on Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts. This beautiful, historic church will be filled with song, prayer and gratitude for the gifts of the season and the hard work of our local growers. It’s a warm, welcoming space where everyone is invited to reflect on the strength of our community and the abundance we share.

A Feast to Celebrate Local Flavours
Following the service, the festivities continue with a Harvest Lunch at 12:30pm in the rustic Haybarn at Stanstead Bury Farm, just a short stroll from the church.

This isn’t just any lunch – it’s a true taste of the countryside. Enjoy a hearty meal made with seasonal, locally grown ingredients. It’s a delicious tribute to our local farmers, bakers, gardeners and producers – the people who nourish our village year-round.

Book Your Place – Tickets Now Available (SOLD OUT!!!)
Tickets for the Harvest Lunch are just £15 and must be booked in advance, as places are limited and always in high demand.

St Elizabeth’s Centre: Applefest

AppleFest is back!

Join us for an afternoon of apple picking, live entertainment, refreshments and BBQ and fun for all the family. We also have a number of stalls including our very own social enterprises.

All the details
When: Saturday 27 September 2025, 11 am–3:30 pmWhere: St Elizabeth’s Centre, Perry Green, Much HadhamEntry: Free (donations gratefully received)

Come along and join the fun!

  • Apple Picking & Tasting: Wander the orchard and taste the harvest.
  • Live Music & Entertainment: Celebrate with tunes and family‑friendly performances.
  • Refreshments & BBQ: Savour light bites, cooked treats, and drinks.
  • Local Stalls: Browse stalls featuring goods from St Elizabeth’s own social enterprises, alongside crafts and produce.

Why AppleFest Matters
AppleFest blends enjoyment with community spirit and fundraising. Proceeds from donations and stall sales support St Elizabeth’s mission – helping children and adults with learning disabilities, epilepsy and other complex needs live full, meaningful lives.

We look forward to seeing you there!Louisa Stone
Fundraising and Database Administrator
St Elizabeth’s Centre
www.stelizabeths.org.uk

The next Equine Bootsale and Dog Show!

The next Equine Bootsale and Dog Show on Sunday 6th July will be held on Widford Playing Fields (SG12 8SL), 11am to 1pm.

Pitches £10
Horse boxes/trailer £15
PITCHES ON THE DAY £15
(bring your own table/blanket)

Entry for buyers only £1!

Dog Show Entry £2 per show per dog per class

CASH AND CARD ARE NOW ACCEPTED

Dog Show sponsored by Oaks Funeral Directors – Cuffley.
Toilet hire sponsored by Jimmy Riddles Toilet Hire.

All monies raised will go to HEART (Heart Animal Rescue Team), which was founded by Hannah Bolton after finding there was a need for support within Harlow, Essex and neighbouring areas for local wildlife. Hannah has been rehabbing and rescuing animals for 3 years. HEART is full of a network of some wonderful people who go above and beyond to make sure animals are safe and cared for. To find out more about this charity, visit their website: https://www.heartrescue.co.uk/.

Message Gail on 07747300095 to book your pitches!

Madrigals at Amwell Pool

Madrigals at Amwell Pool, the wonderful annual music event is just around the corner!

WHEN: Friday 20th June, 9–10.30pm
WHERE: Amwell Pool, Lower Road, Great Amwell

The Haileybury Chamber Choir and Choral Society will sing at this long-established event, by the banks of the river in the beautiful village of Great Amwell. The music and stunning setting makes the evening truly magical. This will be the 85th Madrigals Concert!

All welcome. No tickets required.

As usual, there will be a collection in aid of Isabel Hospice.

Summer Event at St James’ Church

Celebrate the summer at St James’ Church!

WHEN: Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June, , 2–5pm
WHERE: St James’ Church, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts

Cream Teas and Churchyard Tours
On Saturday and Sunday, come and enjoy a delicious cream tea in the beautiful setting of this ancient church. Free churchyard tours offer a fascinating exploration into the rich history of the church and those who are laid to rest there. Please do bring along cash as the card machine may be temperamental!

‘Songs for a Summer Afternoon’ Concert
At 4pm on Saturday 14th, join us for a special concert by the Priory Choir. It will be a wonderful festival of delightful summer songs! The performance will take place in the church. Tickets for the performance will cost £10 per person with all profits going towards the upkeep of St James’. To book your tickets for ‘Songs for a Summer Afternoon’, please got to EventBrite. Although there are some tickets available on the door, we would recommend you book in advance!

About St James’ Church
St James’ is a redundant church in the care of the Churches Convervation Trust. The Friends of St James’ Church, a group of dedicated local volunteers, organises a wide range of events during the year, as well as helping to keep the church open to visitors during the summer months. You can learn more about us on our website.

The next Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show

The next Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show on Sunday 11th May will be held on Widford Playing Fields (SG12 8SL), 11am to 1pm.

Pitches £10
Horse boxes/trailer £15
PITCHES ON THE DAY £15
(bring your own table/blanket)

Entry for buyers only £1!
Dog Show Entry £2 per show per dog per class
CASH ONLY

Dog Show Sponsored by Tyrrell Plastering Ltd.
Jimmy Riddles Toilet Hire is kindly supplying us with a portaloo for the weekend.

All money we raise goes to Friends of the Wild Rescue and Rehab, a volunteer run and self-funded wildlife rescue based in Bishops Stortford, covering the Bishops Stortford area plus surrounding villages. They help all small wildlife, ranging from orphan birds and mammals through to animals with injuries such as broken legs/wings and cat attack injuries. Find out more about this amazing charity on their website: https://friendsofthewild.co.uk/.

Message on 07747300095 to book your pitches!

Jim’s Big Walk for Coffee and Coping

Have you heard about CEO of Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s Big Walk on 20th April? Jim is walking the 20 miles from Bath to Wells to raise money for this important charity. Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s mission is to combat loneliness, and all that goes with it, through community. They have a number of groups that meet around Hertfordshire and they have achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time, but fundraising is vital to help them continue in their work.

Jim’s story
Why walk from Bath to Wells? Well, I’ll tell you! These two places played a major part in my childhood, but also are places where community values were instilled in me! My charity is trying to reconnect community values back into everyday life.

Growing up in Somerset I lived a life filled with people I knew, trusted and relied upon! We were in and out of each other’s houses without knocking. We were able to trust the people who lived in the houses around us and we never got lost because someone around us knew where we should be going.

In this life now all that is lost! I’m not saying to blindly trust everyone or listen to the words of strangers without forethought. I am saying, however, it costs us nothing to listen, talk and support our neighbours!

Help me get where I’m going both mentally physically and emotionally!

If you can support Jim in his incredible fundraising effort, all donations are gratefully received. You can find his Just Giving page HERE.

GROUPS

Coffee and Coping Stanstead Abbotts Drop-in: Midday to 1:30pm, Wednesdays and Fridays at The Ashlea Room, Parish Hall, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts SG12 8EZ. A chance to get together, meet new people and build community. Everyone is welcome!

Hope in Action: 5 to 6.30pm, every Wednesday at St Mary’s Church, 33a Hoddesdon Road, St Margarets, Herts SG12 8EG. An addicts, heavy substance and alcohol users’ safe space to talk, get help and break their cycles of addiction.

Coffee and Coping Hertford Heath Drop-in: 2 to 3pm, every Tuesday at The Silver Fox pub, 16-18 London Road, Hertford Heath, Herts SG14 7RH. This group is for anyone who wants to connect with people, talk about life, as well as get real help for any problems that may arise.

 Men’s Communication Collective: 6.30 to 8pm, 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at the Pioneer Club, Heathlands Drive, St Albans, Herts. AL3 5AY. The chance for all adult men to find a safe space to talk about their issues and also look at the way they communicate with their families, friends and colleagues.

These groups are free to attend. No need to book, just go along!

First Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show of 2025!

The first Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show of 2025 will be held on 19th January!

WHERE: Albury Village Hall, The Bourne, Albury
WHAT TIME: 11am to 1.30pm

EQUINE TABLE TOP SALE
Entry £1 (cash only)
Lots of different stalls offering some lovely items for sale, including some non-horsey things too.
Refreshments including homemade sausage rolls and cakes on sale too!

Book your tables in advance at £10 – numbers are limited. To book a table get in touch with Gail on 07747300095.

DOG SHOW
Entry £2 per show per dog (cash only)
Ribbons awards up to 5th place for all classes.

All money raised will go to Therapeutic Hooves, a Hertfordshire based therapeutic pony centre that offers individually tailored sessions for a wide range of physical and mental health additional needs. Find out more about this amazing charity here: https://www.therapeutichooves.com/

Check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TherapeuticHooves

Last Equine Table Top Sale & Dog Show for 2024!

Don’t miss the last Equine Table Top Sale and Dog show of the year!

WHERE: Albury Village Hall, The Bourne, Albury
WHEN: Sunday 24th November
WHAT TIME: 11am to 1.30pm

EQUINE TABLE TOP SALE
Entry £1 (cash only)
Lots of different stalls offering some lovely items for sale, including some non-horsey things too (like Doggy Deli Co)
Refreshments including homemade sausage rolls and cakes on sale too!

DOG SHOW
Entry £2 per show per dog (cash only)
Ribbons awards up to 5th place for all classes!

The Dog Show is kindly sponsored by The Hair Lab Herts based at The Maltings.

They are raising money for Friends of the Wild Rescue & Rehab in Bishops Stortford and Surrounding Villages. They help small, self-funded wildlife, ranging from orphan birds and small mammals to animals with injuries like broken wings or legs. Find out more about this amazing charity HERE.

The Big Quiz for Tearfund

Do you like a good quiz? Do you like supporting incredible charities? If yes, then we have an evening of fun for you!

Join The 3 Churches Benefice for an epic evening of poverty-beating, community-building fun! Every penny raised will go to Tearfund, who work tirelessly to fight extreme poverty throughout the world.

WHEN: Saturday 16th November, 7pm at The Wilshere Hall, St Andrew’s Church

DETAILS: £5 per person, Teams of up to 8 people, Bring your own drinks & snacks

Get tickets in advance by emailing peter.melrose@ntlworld.com or purchase (in cash) on the door!

To learn more about Tearfund and the important work they do, you can watch this video HERE or visit their website: https://www.tearfund.org/

The 3 Churches Benefice

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