About Us
Benefice
St Mary’s Woburn is part of a group (Benefice) of four parishes. All the parishes are served by the Benefice Administrator Janice Windon. The parishes share a common vision and faith and identity. The Parishes enjoy good fellowship and mutual support each other. Four times a year have a Sunday morning united Service rotating around the parishes.
Our Rector
REV’D RACHEL SNOW
The Benefice – St Mary’s, Woburn; St John the Baptist, Eversholt; St Peter’s, Milton Bryan and St Peter and All Saints, Battlesden are all served by The Rev’d Rachel Snow.
Rachel served her curacy at St Paul’s Letchworth with All Saints, Willian and St Mary’s, Old Letchworth. She holds a PhD in Immunology and worked in research at the University of Southampton. Before ordination, Rachel was a secondary science teacher. She trained for ministry at St Mellitus College, and at St Mary’s, Redbourn, and believes in the transforming power of God for individuals and their communities.
Rachel is married to Derek and they have two grown up sons. In her spare time she enjoys cycling, gardening and spending time with her family. Both Rachel and Derek are enjoying living in such a beautiful part of the Diocese.
Faith
As an Anglican Church we profess the Christian faith as uniquely revealed in the Holy Scripturesand set forth in the catholic creeds and witnessed to in the historic formularies of the Church of England,the 39 articles of religion and the book of Common Prayer.
We would summarise our understanding of the essentials of the Christian faith and the basis from which we seek to work, worship and serve as a parish and with the wider Christian Church as follows
1. There is one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit whose sovereignty and grace is shown in His loving care of all creation.
2. Who is revealed in the Bible and who is judge of all things.
3. The Bible is divinely inspired, fully trustworthy and is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
4. Through His death, Jesus, the Son of God, won forgiveness for the sin of humankind.This is the only basis of redemption from the power of sin and its eternal consequence.
5. We are reconciled to God solely by the grace of God received by faith in Christ Jesus being crucified and rising from the dead.
6. The work of God the Holy Spirit within us is to make God real to us in our daily lives and empower us to live for Him and others
Mission
MK Food Bank
The Food Bank provides local families and individuals in the Milton Keynes area with essential food supplies at a time when they need them most, covering the days and weeks before they are back on their feet or other social care infrastructures can come into play. Their clients (of any race, religion or colour) can receive a food parcel 6 times within a rolling 12 month period, having been referred. It’s easy to donate items – most supermarkets have trollies at their entrance. The Food Bank’s Extra service is aimed at people on benefits, free school meals or in
severe debt or crisis, the unemployed, the homeless or those at risk. At the moment, the most needed items are tinned pasta, rice pudding, tinned custard, tinned meat, tinned fruit & sugar. The Food Bank usually issued 250 parcels of food each week. At the beginning of this pandemic, those parcels issued quadrupled in number to over 1000 per week. As at October 2020, they are now sending out 600 parcels each week. The Food Bank’s motto is “Sowing the Seeds of Love”.
Willen Hospice
Willen Hospice is a registered charity that provides specialist care for people whose illness no longer responds to curative treatment (also known as specialist palliative care). They work in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas and are based at a quiet lakeside area close to the City Centre. Patients receive care within the Hospice building itself but also within the community via their specialist Community Nursing Teams. They provide care for people from the age of 18 years upwards and this focuses on four key areas: specialist symptom control, emotional support, spiritual support and care for carers.
Please click on the buttons below to find out more information about Willen Hospice.
Christian Solidary Worldwide
In 2020 St Mary’s Woburn began supporting Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). CSW is a Christian organisation that works to defend, uphold and promote the right to freedom of religion or belief in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Through advocacy, they challenge world leaders to fulfil their duty to protect religious freedom. They encourage their supporters to be involved in various campaigns for those persecuted for their beliefs. They encourage prayer for and letter writing to encourage those imprisoned and their families.
For more information, please take a look at their website.
Leadership
Rev’d Rachel Snow
Rector
Ian Wayment
Church Warden
Derek Snow
Church Warden
David Knapman
Treasurer
Fran Brown
Benefice Administrator
Paula Sawers
Safeguarding Officer
Connect Groups
Two new groups are starting in September 2025 and will run until February 2026, meeting weekly.
Both are based on the Romans Course from the Bible Society.
The Romans Course is a 10-session journey, which helps you study Paul’s letter to the Romans. Using engaging videos, it explores key themes including grace, peace, freedom, hope, mystery, community and mission. We will also encourage one another as we share our learning together and pray for each other.
GROUP 1 – DAYTIME
Fortnightly on Thursday at 2pm, from September 2025 to February 2026. | Led by Christine Gage and Rachel Snow
Venue: The Vicarage, Park Street, Woburn, Milton Keynes, MK17 9PG
CLICK ON THE PHOTO OF CHRISTINE AND RACHEL BELOW TO SIGN UP
GROUP 2 – EVENING
Fortnightly on Monday at 7.30pm, from September 2025 to February 2026. | Led by Ian and Jean Wayment
Venue: 11 London End, Woburn, Beds. MK17 9PU (Ian and Jean’s home)
CLICK ON THE PHOTO OF IAN AND JEAN BELOW TO SIGN UP