The Parish and Priest
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We have been here on Hollybush Lane, worshipping God and serving the community since 1882. We are in the catholic tradition of the Church of England. We value the sacramental life of the church, and believe that Christ is really present in the Eucharist. You will find at St Mary Magdalene an emphasis on worship which is beautiful and intended to appeal to the whole person – to heart as well as head, to senses as well as intellect. We seek to be a church for the whole local community, and to welcome all with generous hospitality, sharing the love of God.
We are a family who share in the love of Jesus Christ. St Mary Magdalene Church is full of ordinary people – office workers, teachers, drivers, nurses, people who are unemployed and retired. We come from all over the world, and more than twelve different languages are spoken within our congregation. Some of us are refugees, new to the area, some are seeking asylum, some of us were born here and others arrived in the parish years and years ago. We are single, married, divorced, single parents, not parents, and widows.
We welcome you whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whoever you love.
The Parish The church building dates from 1882 and was originally part of Lord Salisbury’s estate centred around Hatfield House. However as Welwyn Garden City expanded in the 1940’s, ‘50’s, & 60’s, so the small hamlet of Hatfield Hyde was incorporated into it. We now serve a large parish numbering over 25,000, with new house building underway. Our Parish Centre in Hall Grove is on the site of what was once All Saint’s Church. This is a newly built centre, which we hope and pray will be a hub for community life and the building of relationships.
Discover the history of the Parish
The Revd Emma Hopegood Jones Our Parish Priest The Revd Emma Hopegood Jones has been parish priest of St Mary Magdalene since January 2021.
“I’m originally from Somerset, and as a child my home church was Bath Abbey, where I was a chorister. I left home to study music at King’s College London, where I was a choral scholar. After graduating, I moved to Cambridge, where I was a children’s worker in several churches. I trained for the priesthood at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, where I also completed a degree in Theology, Ministry and Mission.
I served as a curate in the Benefice of Hanborough and Freeland, in West Oxfordshire, and was blessed to be able to continue in my studies, completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission from Durham University.
I am passionate about the Church being good news in the community – for everyone in our parish. Through our prayer and worship I hope we can be an oasis of prayer, beauty and peace, where we encounter God’s love. Through our commitment to welcome, hospitality and service, following Christ, I pray everyone can find a home at St Mary Magdalene.
My husband Chris and I are thrilled to be here in Welwyn Garden City, and Gus and Mowzer, our two cats, feel very much at home in the vicarage too.
Contact Emma
Our Curate
The Revd Nicky Jackson The Revd Nicky Jackson joined us as curate of St Mary Magdalene in July 2022, when she was ordained deacon.
“I grew up in and around the Hatfield area and now live in Welham Green just up the road. For over 15 years, St Etheldreda’s and St Luke’s churches were my home parishes and over that time I took on many different roles from children’s leader to safeguarding lead to deputy churchwarden to finally ordinand for the 3 years before I left following my ordination in 2022.
My husband and two children have also been very much part of the community in my sending churches and still are.
I am very much looking forward to working alongside Emma in being good news in the community for all those that I meet and get to know within the community of St Mary Magdalene and I look forward to seeing where God is already at work within the community and joining in!”
Contact Nicky