Plan Your Visit

You're very welcome

St Mary Magdalene has been a place of worship here in Welwyn Garden City since 1882 — older than the town itself — and our doors are still open to anyone. Whether you've worshipped here for years, you're trying church for the first time, or you're simply curious about what goes on inside, you'll find a warm welcome.

We belong to the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England. On a Sunday that means hymns and an organ, candles and robes, music from across the centuries, time-honoured prayers, and moments of stillness — woven together with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. There's no dress code: your jeans are fine.

After every service we put the kettle on. We love getting to know one another over tea, coffee and biscuits — please stay and say hello.

When we meet

Sunday Parish Eucharist — 10am

Our main weekly service, lasting around an hour: hymns, scripture, a sermon and Communion, followed by refreshments at the back of church.

Wednesday Eucharist — 10.30am

A quieter, shorter service of about 45 minutes, often with homemade cake afterwards.

For special services across the year — Carol Services, Holy Week, Christmas, baptisms and one-off occasions — please see What's On, or sign up to our newsletter on the homepage.

Finding us

St Mary Magdalene Church

Hollybush Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4JS

This is where our Sunday and Wednesday services happen.

The Parish Centre

Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4PJ

Our modern community space, used for many of our gatherings outside Sunday worship.

Parking and access

There's free on-site parking next to the Parish Centre on Hall Grove, with designated disabled spaces close to the entrance, and additional street parking nearby. Spaces are usually easy to find before services and weekday events.

The Parish Centre has level access throughout — straightforward for pushchairs and wheelchair users — and an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities just off the main lobby. We continue to work on making our historic church building more accessible too. If you have questions about access before you visit, please get in touch and we'll be glad to help.

Coming with children

Children are an integral part of our congregation, not an afterthought, and they're welcome at every service.

During the Sunday Parish Eucharist there are activities for children in the Lady Chapel — a side chapel positioned so that little ones can still see everything that's happening at the altar. We're a breastfeeding-friendly church, with a well-equipped baby-changing room and a stash of quiet toys and books for the smallest visitors.

Getting in touch

If there's anything you'd like to ask before you visit — about a service, about a baptism, wedding or funeral, or simply about what to expect — please don't hesitate to be in touch.

• Parish Priest: Reverend Dr Ryan Gilfeather — ryan@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk
• Churchwardens: churchwardens@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk
• Baptisms, weddings, funerals & hall hire: bookings@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk

We look forward to meeting you.