HOME PAGE – CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS

The Catholic Church is considered to be the oldest institution in the western world, tracing its history back almost 2000 years. It is also the world’s largest grouping with over a billion Catholics spread over all five continents, concentrated particularly in southern Europe, the Philippines, the United States and the countries of Central and South America. It is estimated that there are around 5 million baptised Catholics in the UK itself.

The Roman Catholic Church in the UK is organised in two divisions: one in England and Wales and the other in Scotland. These two organisations are part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual direction and teaching of the Pope and Roman Catholic bishops all over the world.

Hertfordshire falls under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster, which is a diocese of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Archdiocese comprises all the London boroughs north of the River Thames and west of the River Lea, along with the towns southwest of Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames, and the County of Hertfordshire.

Catholic schools are part of the education ministries of the Roman Catholic Church and educate approximately 10% of school students in England and Wales. The Catholic Education Service (CES) supports and promotes Catholic education in this part of the UK by partnering with the other 22 diocesan education services.

These schools aim to nurture their students through participation in the sacramental life of the Church; study of religion, theology and philosophy; a full curriculum in secular subjects; and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. You can find Catholic schools in almost every country of the world and they have often been the only schools in some parts of the world.

Catholic schools in England and Wales are either independent or voluntary aided, with funding shared between the State and the CES. The CES provides education for around 840,000 students each year through its 2,300 schools. Moreover, approximately 130 independent schools in England have a Catholic character.

There are quite a few Catholic schools and Catholic churches within Hertfordshire’s main towns and cities i.e. Royston, Baldock, Letch worth, Hitchin ,Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, Stevenage Old Town, Bishops Stortford Sawbridgeworth, Harlow, Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Potters Bar, Borehamwood, Barnet, Harrow, edgware, Bushey, Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Watford, Radlett, Hatfield, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Ware, St Albans, Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Tring, Dunstable, Luton, and Stevenage.