Volunteers at a Peterchurch church and hub have been recognised in the King’s birthday honours, it has been announced this morning.

St Peter’s Church and the Hub in Peterchurch has received a King’s Award for Voluntary Service for their support of its local community. This is the only award this year for Herefordshire.

More than 50 volunteers of all ages, ranging from a teen up to some 80-year-olds, support the church and Hub in a variety of ways, helping to bring people in this rural corner of the county together and provide support to those in need.

The Revd Simon Lockett, Vicar of St Peter’s Church Peterchurch and Director of The Hub, explains: “I know that all our volunteers will be thrilled but equally slightly baffled that what they do is seen as anything exceptional. They are a wonderful group of people, who come together to care for each other and those around them. It is wonderful that they are getting recognition of the highest order – this is a fantastic thank you to them for all they do day in and day out as wonderful examples of quiet Christian service.”

This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.

Edward Harley, Lord-Lieutenant for Herefordshire, said: “I am delighted that St Peter’s, and the Community Hub have been awarded this honour. In this highly rural community, it demonstrates how people can come together to support and care for each other across the generations. I send my warmest congratulations.”

The award, announced on the birthday of His Majesty The King, acknowledges the work of the volunteers in delivering support and care in a highly rural community. Programmes run by the church range from various group cafes and activities across the generations to hosting a branch of the County Library to wellbeing programmes and support for those less able in the community. Providing healthy, affordable meals, sharing pre-loved clothes during the heating crisis and offering friendship and fellowship. Volunteers also care for the churchyard, undertake home visits and ring with the bells being conserved, and ring out local events and national occasions.

Rural communities are often the places where the shared experience is important and quiet acts of service go from generation to generation. One of the Hub volunteers, Mary adds: “It brings great joy to all of us who volunteer that we can help each other and those in our community. One of the most rewarding aspects is how the church and Hub bring together isolated people with different skills and interests and across the ages. One day you may be the volunteer, another you are the person who is being supported.”

At the Hub sharing local community stories, of their heritage, benefits both volunteers and users, especially those new to the area. All the volunteers are trained and feel enriched by their experience.

The Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, adds: “I am delighted with the news, and it highlights how our rural churches can find new ways of serving their communities. We must also congratulate the Revd Simon Locket and Sarah Halliday, the project coordinator, for their vision, drive and commitment to the project and of their Christian service to their community. This project is utterly brilliant.”

The Hub is seen as a national exemplar, both in volunteers and delivery, and regularly host groups from other parts of the UK, most recently Brixham, Devon and from as far away as Wenatchee, Washington State, US.

St Peter’s Church and its Community Hub is one of 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways fantastic volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The church and Hub volunteers will receive the award crystal and certificate from the Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Mr Edward Harley, next spring. In addition, two volunteers from St Peter’s and the Community Hub will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.