CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN HERTFORDSHIRE

Catholicism is a faith that is built around the seven sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, marriage, holy orders (i.e. joining the priesthood) and the sacrament of the sick. The importance of receiving Jesus Christ's body and blood at communion as the bread of life is central to Catholicism..

Catholics hold that the Pope, who is based in Rome, is the successor to Saint Peter whom Jesus Christ appointed as the first head of His church; therefore He stands in the apostolic succession, i.e. an unbroken line back to Peter and hence has supreme authority. All vital decisions rest with the Pope and his advisors.

The hierarchical nature of Catholicism differentiates it from other Christian churches. It is a pyramid with the Pope at the top, followed by cardinals (who have the right to elect a new pope in case of the death of the current incumbent), archbishops, bishops, priests and laity

The Catholic Church in the UK

In the UK, Catholics underwent a long period of persecution following Henry VIII's split with the papacy in the 1530s and they were sometimes regarded as servants of a foreign power, particularly after the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 that was forged by Catholic figures in the hope of restoring a co-believer to the throne. However, by the start of the 19th century, such 'anti-popery' prejudices started to fade away and full civic rights were restored in the Britain in 1829.

Today there are as many as five million Catholics - or 10 per cent of the population - but of these only about one million attend church regularly. Catholics world over are encouraged to attend weekly mass and are during Easter season they are obliged to attend the sacraments of Reconciliation (previously known as Confession) and Holy Communion.

The Catholic Church & Other Christian Denominations

Catholicism and Christianity existed as one for almost a thousand years till the split in the Orthodox Christians in 1054 over questions of doctrine and the absolute authority and behaviour of the popes. Similar reasons also compelled Protestant churches to go their own way in the 16th century

From 1962 to 1965, the modernising Second Vatican Council witnessed Catholicism addressing itself in earnest to its relationships with other Christian churches. Consequently the Council abandoned the notion of the Catholic Church as the sole means of salvation and other routes to heaven were acknowledged. This development opened the dialogue with other churches and produced an atmosphere of good will and reunion; however, primary questions on authority, the sacraments and ministry continue to present obstacles to a total reunion.

Hertfordshire comes under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, which is an ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Archdiocese of Westminster includes all the London boroughs north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, along with the towns southwest of Sunbury-on-Thames and Staines, and the County of Hertfordshire, which is located immediately to London's north.

You will find from the list of Catholic churches below that a number of them often take the name of Saints.

Holy Rood RC Church
Watford, Hertfordshire

SS Alban & Stephen Catholic Church
St Albans, Hertfordshire

• Our Lady Immaculate & St Andrew Church
Hitchin, Hertfordshire

• St Joseph´s RC Church
Hertford, Hertfordshire

• Parish of St Francis de Sales
Wolverton, Buckinghamshire

• Our Lady Of Lourdes RC Church
Harpenden, Hertfordshire

• Catholic Parish of St Bede´s
Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire

• Church of St Teresa
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

• Sacred Heart of Jesus & St Joseph Church
Ware, Hertfordshire

• Our Lady Queen of Apostles
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

• St Anthony´s
Radlett, Hertfordshire –

• Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire

• Coptic Orthodox Church Centre
Stevenage, Hertfordshire –

• Royston Roman Catholic Church
Royston, Hertfordshire

• Church of St Mary & St Joseph
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire