18 Dec 2023
Churches across St Albans, Harpenden and the district around will be celebrating the birth of Jesus, the new-born king, in services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Here the St Albans Times publishes a round-up of many of those services, showing the range of celebrations on offer – from midnight Mass to ‘pop up’ Nativities, from Christmas Day celebrations to reflective services and traditional Communions.
St Albans Cathedral and other churches across the area will be offering a warm welcome to all those visiting at Christmas as well as regular worshippers. Some services will also be available online.
When the angels appeared to the shepherds on the hillside, they declared, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Christians believe that Jesus Christ – the baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas – brings joy and hope today. Christ, God in human form, came to live and to die, to bring hope to a fearful world, and life everlasting to all who follow him.
I wish you and those you love, a joyful and hopeful Christmas from your local churches.
Rev Peter Crumpler
Associate Minister
St Paul’s Church, St Albans
St Stephen’s Church
Watling Street, St Albans AL1 2PT
Christmas Eve: 4pm crib service (in church), 11pm midnight Mass (in church)
Christmas Day: 8am said Holy Communion (in church), 10am all-age Communion service (in church and online)
St Julian’s Church
3 Abbot’s Avenue, St Albans AL1 2HY
Christmas Eve: 4pm crib service (in church)
Christmas Day: 10am Holy Communion (in church)
St Peter’s Church, London Colney
Riverside, London Colney AL2 1 QA
www.stpeterslondoncolney.co.uk
Christmas Eve: 4pm Christingle (in church only), 11.30pm midnight Mass (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am family Eucharist (in church only)
Christ Church, Radlett
Watling Street Radlett WD7 7JJ
www.christchurchstjohns.org.uk
Christmas Eve: 6pm family carol service (in church only)
Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion from the BCP (in church only), 10am Holy Communion (Common Worship – traditional service in modern language, in church only)
St Albans Cathedral
Sumpter Yard, St Albans AL1 1BY
Christmas Eve: 10am sung Eucharist (in church only), 1pm crib service (in church only), 2.30pm crib service (in church only), 5pm choral Vespers service (in church and online), 11pm midnight Mass (in church and online)
Christmas Day: 8am Eucharist in traditional language with congregational carols (in church only), 9.30am Christmas Day Eucharist (in church and online), 11.15am Christmas Day choral Eucharist (in church only)
St Paul’s Church, Fleetville
Corner of Hatfield Road and Blandford Road, AL1 4JP
Christmas Eve: 3.30pm Pop-up Nativity – for all the family (in church only), 5pm Pop-up Nativity – for all the family (in church only)
Christmas Day: 8.30am Holy Communion service (in church and online), 10.30am Christmas celebration (in church and online)
St John’s Church, Harpenden
5 St Johns Road, Harpenden. AL5 1DJ
Christmas Eve: 11am carols around the crib (in church only), 11.30pm midnight Mass (in church and online)
Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion (in church only), 10am all-age parish Eucharist (in church and online)
St Nicholas’ Church, Harpenden
Church Green, Harpenden, AL5 2TP
Christmas Eve: 8am said Holy Communion (in church only), 3pm Christmas crib service (in church only), 5pm Christmas crib service (in church only), 11pm midnight Holy Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion with carols (in church only), 9.30am Holy Communion with carols (in church only), 11.30am morning praise with carols (in church only)
St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead
High Street, Wheathampstead AL4 8AA
Christmas Eve: 3pm crib service (in church only), 4.15pm crib service (in church only), 11pm midnight Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Communion service (in church and online)
Christ Church, Harpenden
Meeting in Roundwood Park School, Roundwood Park, Harpenden AL5 3EA
4 Vaughan Road Harpenden AL5 4ED
www.christchurchharpenden.org.uk
Christmas Eve: 10.30am morning family service at Roundwood (in church only), 8.30pm evening reflective service (in church only) at Vaughan Road
Christmas Day: 10am morning celebration at Roundwood (in church only)
St John the Baptist Church, Aldenham
Church Lane, Aldenham, WD25 8BE
Christmas Eve: 4pm Christingle (in church only), 9pm Holy Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10.30am family Communion (in church and online)
St Mary’s Church, Marshalswick
1 Sherwood Avenue, AL4 9QA
Christmas Eve: 4pm Follow the Star: Family service with Christingles (in church only), 11pm midnight Mass (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Day family worship with Communion (in church only)
Holy Trinity Church, Frogmore
37 Frogmore, St Albans AL2 2JU
Christmas Eve: 4pm Nativity service for all ages, costumes encouraged (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10.30am all-age Christmas Day celebration (in church and online)
St John Fisher Mass Centre
28 Hazlemere Road, St Albans, AL4 9RW
Christmas Day: 9am The Nativity of the Lord (in church only)
All Saints’ Church, Harpenden
129 Station Road, Harpenden, AL5 4UU
Christmas Eve: 4pm Christmas crib service (in church only), 11.30pm midnight Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Day family Communion (in church only)
St Luke’s Church, St Albans
46 Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans AL1 5QJ
Christmas Eve: 10am Nativity service for all ages (in church and online), 11.15pm midnight Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am all-age Christmas Day Communion (in church and online)
St Albans URC – Homewood Road
Homewood Road, St Albans, AL1 4BH
Christmas Eve: 10.30am Christmas Eve with Rev George Watt, Synod Moderator (in church and online), 11.30pm midnight service (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Day family service (in church only)
St Peter’s Church, St Albans
Marlborough Road Methodist Church, Marlborough Road St Albans AL1 3XG
St Peter’s Street, St Albans, AL1 3HG
Christmas Eve: 8am BCP Communion at St Peter’s (in church only), 3pm crib service at Marlborough Road (in church only), 6.30pm carol service at Marlborough Road (in church only), 11.30pm midnight Communion at Marlborough Road (in church only)
Christmas Day: 8am BCP Communion at St Peter’s (in church only), 10am all-age Christmas Communion at Marlborough Road (in church and online), 11.30am Christmas Matins at Marlborough Road (in church only)
St Alban and St Stephen RC Church
14 Beaconsfield Road, St Albans AL1 3RB
Christmas Eve: 5pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (in church and online), 7pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (in church and online), 10pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (in church and online)
Christmas Day: 8am The Nativity of the Lord (in church and online), 9.30am The Nativity of the Lord (in church and online), 11.30am The Nativity of the Lord in church and online),
St Peter’s Church, Gustard Wood
Lamer Lane Gustard Wood AL4 8RT
Christmas Day: 10am Christmas celebration (in church only)
Spicer Street Church
Spicer Street, St Albans AL3 4PQ
Christmas Eve: 10.30am carol service (in church and online), 4.30pm family service (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10.30am Christmas Day service (in church and online)
St John the Baptist Church, Harpenden
St John’s Road, Harpenden, AL5 1DJ
Christmas Eve: 11am crib service (in church only), 11.30pm midnight Mass (in church only)
Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion (in church only), 10am Christmas Day all-age Eucharist (in church and online)
St Luke’s Church, Bricket Wood
The Crescent, Bricket Wood, St Albans, AL2 3NF
Christmas Eve: 10am carols and Communion (in church and online), 5pm family Christmas service (in church only), 11.30pm midnight Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Communion (in church only)
St Saviour’s Church, St Albans
Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF
Christmas Eve: 10am said Mass (in church only), 3pm crib service (in church only), 5pm Christingle (in church only), 11.30pm
midnight Mass (in church only)
Christmas Day: 8am said Mass (in church only), 10am Festal Mass (in church only)
St Bartholomew’s Catholic Church
47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans AL1 2PE
www.stalbanssouth@rcdow.org.uk
Christmas Eve: 4pm Vigil Mass for children and families (in church only), 10.30pm midnight Mass (in church only)
Christmas Day: 9.30am solemn Mass for Christmas (in church only)
Hatfield Road Methodist Church
133B Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4JX
Christmas Eve: 11.15pm midnight Communion (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10.30am Christmas Communion (in church and online)
Dagnall Street Baptist Church
Upper Dagnall Street, St Albans, AL3 5EE
Christmas Eve: 10.30am Sunday worship (in church only)
Christmas Day: 10.15am Christmas Day service (in church and online)
St Mary’s Church, Harpenden
Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 3QE
Christmas Eve: 9.30am said Holy Communion (in church only), 2.30pm crib service (in church only), 4.30pm crib service (in church only), 11.30pm midnight service (in church only)
Christmas Day: 9.30am family Christmas Communion (in church only)
