[1] William Pennefather (1816-1873), the popular evangelist and author of several well-known hymns, was vicar here from 1852 to 1864, just after the village had been linked to central London by train.

It is one of the most northerly parishes on the edge of the London Diocese following boundary changes in 1965 when the church was transferred to the Edmonton area.

While on the one hand it is part of a typical commuter town, having access to links into and around London (being on the end of the Northern Line and close to a number of arterial roads – M25, A1M, M1), the major part of the land use is rural, made up of fields and green space (with three working farms and three golf courses).

[3] The parish is served by the Spires shopping centre, a public library, a market and three schools:[3] The church's cemetery is on the opposite (western) side of St Albans Road, a short distance to the north, and contains a number of war graves.

[6] A memorial to former pupils of Barnet Boys School who died in the Second Boer War stands near the church.