St Peter & St Paul's, Ash

Ash Church Website

A greeting from the Rector

Click here for the Rectors letter - August 2008

Click here for times of services

Click here to read about the history of Ash Church

You can contact John by email: rector@ash-church.org.uk

I am now approaching my eighth year as Rector of Ash and Ridley and I really do feel that I have become a part of the community. So I want to welcome you to the Ash Church web site which helps to place the church within our local community of Ash, New Ash Green and Hodsoll Street.

St. Peter & St. Paul's Church, Ash is situated in the village of Ash, just to the south of New Ash Green. A short walk along lanes or footpaths, or a couple of minutes' drive, brings you to our beautiful 1000 year old church set in very tranquil surroundings. The church tries to cater for the worshipping needs of the community in a variety of different ways. We use both the Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship in our services and have a very keen choir with a fine choral tradition, as well as bells and a very capable set of bell ringers. For the younger members we have Sunday School - now called Junior Church, a youth club, and Boys' and Girls' Brigades. We also try to take part in the life of the local community and have an active social life including the Ash Fete, occasional concerts or other events and involvement in New Ash Green's Village Week.

As well as looking back to our history - and there is lots of information here for those who are interested - we are also looking forward because we realise that our Church has to keep up with the times. The continual maintenance of an ancient Grade I listed building is an ever-present burden and over the next year or so a lot of work will have to be done to repair the ravages of the weather and time, particularly on the tower and bells. However we do not just want to focus on care and maintenance because we need better facilities so that we can make even more use of the lovely building for the benefit of the whole parish. We therefore have plans for a small extension that will provide much-needed modern amenities. I make no apology at asking for help with this because the end result will be a church that will serve the local community much more effectively. So whatever the community can put into it by way of skills, time or money will, I know, be repaid with interest over the coming years. Everyone can help so I hope that you will come to visit us and find out what you can do.

I trust that anyone who joins us for worship, for one of our social functions, or just to look at the oldest building still standing in the parish, will find a warm welcome.

Try it and see.

John Peal, Rector - Spring 2007