After sharing the same church for 30 years two religious denominations have merged into a single congregation.
For three decades Anglicans and Methodists from Berkhamsted shared All Saints' Church.
Although a few years ago a service that incorporated both group's traditions was introduced, the merger is the work of several year's of work by All Saints' min
ister Rev Paul Timmis, who leaves later this summer to take up a new appointment at a ecumenical project in Worcester Park.
At the end of last month (June 25) parishioners spent the evening celebrating as they gathered to sign a Single Congregation Constitution to make the historic event official.
Speaking on the night Rev Timmis, said: "Tonight we gather to formally recognise and give thanks to God for the fact that we now have one congregation in this place. We are delighted to have reached this point. It is a privilege for all of us to be able to share this historic moment together."
Attending the celebration was Rev Anne Brown, chair of the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire Methodist District and the Right Reverend Christopher Foster, Bishop of Hertford.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Anglican Team Ministry in Berkhamsted and members of the Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Methodist Circuit.
Special music was provided by the choir under the baton of Peter McMunn.
Revd Timmis is to be succeeded by the Rev Caroline Weaver who is already a circuit minister and Prison Chaplain at HMP The Mount in Bovingdon.
The full article contains 252 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
