Forty years is a Biblical length of time. It’s the time the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness before their descendants entered the Promised Land.

St Albans and Harpenden may not be a promised land – though plenty of people have moved here in search of better homes or schools – but the Review stands as a firm feature of the local landscape.

I have written for the Review for more than 22 years and today co-ordinate the Public Pulpit column that appears each week. I’m grateful to a team of dedicated writers for their insights into local and national life.

Why do we do it? Because the local media matters – and it matters more today than at any other time in recent history.

The overall media landscape is bleak. National newspapers are under scrutiny as some have been guilty of phone-hacking, bullying and poor journalism. Many local and regional newspapers are closing, and the internet is transforming the ways people get their news and information.

All this makes it even more important to celebrate the Review’s 40th anniversary.

As a Christian, I want to affirm the media’s vital role in our society. At its best the media give a voice to the voiceless and hold the powerful to account. They keep people informed, bring us strong opinions to challenge our own and tell stories to entertain us.

Churches and other faith groups are firmly rooted in our local communities. People of all ages and backgrounds come together in our buildings.

In the past decades, the churches have played leading roles in setting up organisations that make life better in St Albans and Harpenden. They range from the Open Door centre for the homeless to the credit union, from the food bank to services for those suffering from addiction, and many more.

St Albans Abbey stands at the core of our community as a major focus of worship, heritage and the arts, and many other local churches are centres for their local communities.

And, through the years, the Review has been there, giving coverage to these projects and supporting the churches and other faith groups. At a time when trust in parts of the media is at an all-time low, the local media stands out as a trusted source of information and feedback – on paper, via the web and through a range of social media.

So, congratulations to the Review, long may you bring us the news that matters.