We are a lively benefice of four parish churches (All Saints Kings Langley, Holy Trinity Leverstock Green, St. Benedict’s Bennett’s End and St. Mary’s Apsley) serving the communities of Kings Langley, Apsley, Bennetts End and Leverstock Green. You may be wondering where Langelei is! The benefice sits in a triangle between Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans approximately 20 miles northwest of London on the southern edge of the Chiltern hills, with beautiful ancient woodlands and countryside on the doorstep.

People often ask where the name Langelei comes from.  It is a medieval word meaning ‘long meadow’ which was chosen when the benefice formed in 2009 to describe our location, roughly in a triangle between Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans.

Each of the four churches has its own character, and we enjoy working together collaboratively where appropriate. What we share is the warm welcome that we offer to anyone who would like to join us in worship or at our other events and activities.

Each of our four parishes is led by a PCC, with an overarching Team Council which has responsibilities for communications and office administration. The Team Council meets at least twice a year and comprises the three stipendiary clergy and two lay representatives from each parish.

Each parish has responsibility for its own mission, ministry and finances, and we value the freedom to respond to our own local contexts, and celebrate the diversity of each church’s own traditions and vision. However, we are also committed to one another, enjoying affectionate relationships between the 4 congregations. We do some things best together, and some best separately, and try to maintain a light touch on that. Currently we worship together on Ash Wednesday and on the anniversary of our formation as a team in October; we have an annual joint Quiet Day; walk the Easter Monday pilgrimage to St Albans together; jointly prepare children for communion before confirmation; and enjoy organising social events.