Churches
| Click on a heading below to be directed to the selection of your choice |
| Introduction |
| Clergy, Lay Ministers, Wardens & Elders |
| Service Times in Ashbury |
| Ashbury PCC |
| Church Activities |
| Forthcoming Fund Raising Events |
| Reports on Past Fund Raising Events |
| Further Reading |
Read about the June 2010 Ashbury Flower Festival and view a selection of photographs here
There are two churches in Ashbury, St Mary The Virgin Parish Church and the Ashbury Evangelical Free Church; they work together closely and hold joint services and events. Find out more about the historical background here.
As a result of extensive searches of the archives, initially by Peter Knott, and more recently by Leonie Knott and Margaret Smith, a plaque setting out the names of Vicars and Rectors appointed to St Mary's Church, Ashbury from 1317 to 2000 has been placed at the Church in memory of Rev Dr Michael Starr. A copy may be viewed here.
The Evangelical Free Church celebrated its centenary in 2009; click here to read a booklet published to mark this important event and click here to see some of the old photographs that were displayed at the time.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Ashbury
The Shrivenham & Ashbury Benefice is situated in the Vale of the White Horse and is part of the Oxford Diocese. It is comprised of seven villages:
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Shrivenham
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Ashbury
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Watchfield
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Bourton
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Longcot
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Fernham
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Compton BeauchampAshbury Evangelical Free Church
Clergy, Lay Ministers, Wardens and Elders
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Vicar
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Revd. Richard Hancock
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01793 780183
vicar@standrews-shrivenham.fsnet.co.uk |
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Curates
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Rev Anne Bell (duty days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday)
Rev Canon Edwin Clements (duty days: Tuesday, Friday)
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01367 820091
01793 710811
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NSM
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Revd. Ken Weaver
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01793 782364
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Methodist Minister
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Revd. Graham Tidmarsh
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01793 782584
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Lord Rodney Elton |
01793 710225 |
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Richard Green |
01793 710227 |
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Margaret Smith |
01793 710800 |
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Philip Charters |
01793 710431 |
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David Bunce |
01793 790181 |
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David Pirt |
01793 822533 |
- Service times for the Shrivenham and Ashbury Benefice may be found on following web site (click)
- Service times for St Mary's Church, Ashbury are as follows:
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Sunday 1 August
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11.00am Holy Communion jointly with the Free Church
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Sunday 8 August
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11.00am Morning Prayer
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Sunday 15 August
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11.00am Holy Communion
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Sunday 22 August
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11.00am Holy Communion
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| Sunday 29 August | 10.30am Benefice Service at Fernham |
- Service Times for Ashbury Evangelical Free Church are as follows:
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Sunday 1 August
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10.00am United Service at St Mary's Church 5.00pm Evening Service |
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Sunday 8 August
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10.00am Communion
5.00pm Video and Tea
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Sunday 15 August
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10.00am Communion
5.00pm Bible Study
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| Sunday 22 August | 10.00am Communion 5.00pm Bible Study |
| Sunday 29 August | 10.00am Communion |
Ashbury Parochial Church Council
The Parochial Church Council or PCC is the executive body of a Church of England Parish. It consists of the clergy and churchwardens of the Parish, plus a number of representatives of the laity. It is responsible, in co-operation with the incumbent vicar, for promoting the mission of the Church within its Parish; this includes the financial affairs of the Church and the care and maintenance of the Church fabric and its contents. Contact: PCC Secretary – 710801
Bell Ringers ensure that the bells at St Mary’s Church are rung regularly. Volunteers are needed and training is available. Contact: 710364
Bible Studies are organised by the Free Church on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. Joint study groups meet during Lent and in the Autumn. Venues are published in Church Notices.
Christian Viewpoint is a joint committee comprising members of both Churches in Ashbury; it organises guest speaker events. Contact: 710212 or 710253
Exploring the Christian Faith – an Alpha course is run from time to time in Ashbury or one of the nearby villages. Contact: 780183
Friends of Ashbury Church devise a variety of creative activities to raise funds towards the upkeep and restoration of our historic church. Contact: 710208
Prayer Group meets on Monday mornings for one hour, at alternating venues within the Village. All are welcome. Contact: 710333
Special Choir is formed for Christmas and other special events. New members are welcomed. Contact: 710208
Women’s Fellowship meetings are held at the Free Church on Wednesdays at 2.15pm. Contact: 710759
Forthcoming Fund Raising Events
Ashbury Manor Family Barn Dance - 25 September 2010
Come along to the Manor Barn and dance to "Jugged Hare" from 6.30pm till 10.00pm. Tickets: £10 per adult; £6 for senior citizens and children under 12; £28 for a family of four. Tickets include a Ploughman's supper. There will also be a Bar, Raffle and Children's Bran Tub. Tickets may be obtained by calling 710800, 710801, 710208, 710051. All proceeds go to St Mary's Church, Ashbury.
Reports on Past Fundraising Events
Ashbury Flower Festival & Display of Wedding Dresses through the Ages, 11th - 13th June 2010
The Flower Arranging Workshop in St Mary’s Church on 11 June attracted 28 participants from many surrounding villages, Faringdon and even Swindon. Novices were paired up with those having previous experience and all made a pew end, plus either a pedestal or a cascade arrangement. Click here for photographs. The church looked absolutely magnificent when all the floral creations had been sited amidst wedding dresses that spanned the 18th century to the present day (click to view). In most cases the dresses were accompanied by wedding photographs (click) of couples married in Ashbury in the same decade; some showed up to three generations from the same family.
On 12 June the Church was open to the public for viewing; 196 people attended between 10.00am and 6.00pm. An evening concert by the Wantage Male Voice Choir attracted an appreciative audience of around 85, who took the opportunity to view the flowers and dresses during the interval. The choir conductor cleverly weaved the 'love and marriage' theme into the programme of music.
Morning Communion service at St Mary’s on 13 June was attended by visitors from Swindon and other local villages who also looked round the displays. The Church then re-opened for public viewing from 12noon till 3.00pm. A renewal of marriage vows service followed and the church bells were rung at the end of the service. As people stepped out of the church their photos were taken beneath the archway, which had been beautifully decorated with flowers. Everyone then made their way to the Village Hall for a cream tea, prepared by Ashbury ladies. Meanwhile the Church was re-opened to the public until 5.00pm. A total of 163 people visited the displays that day.
The event generated a magnificent profit of over £1,100 for St Mary’s Church. Special thanks go to Margaret Smith for conceiving and co-ordinating the flower festival and to her willing support team who ensured that everything ran so smoothly and successfully.
Ashbury Church Christmas Bazaar - November 09
Although the turnout for St Mary’s church bazaar on 28th November was not as big as we had hoped, everyone spent generously and we were delighted with the result of £1432, £76 more than last year. This is the main church fundraising event of the year and provides us with a large part of the income needed to maintain the church and pay the Parish share. Our annual expenditure for the Parish share, insurance, heating, lighting, servicing the clock etc rises as much as everyone elses and it gets increasingly difficult to find. We were extremely lucky that the weather was kind and remained dry at the vital times, i.e. unloading in the morning, during the time that the bazaar was open and for clearing up and loading cars at the end. A novel and pleasant change this year was the opening by hand bell ringers from Shrivenham led by Tony Crabtree. They played some Christmas songs and reminded some of us hat we have a nice set of hand bells in the church but no-body to ring them. There was the usual amazing collection of things for sale on the White Elephant stall, always very popular, and a very good bottle stall as well as a wide variety of gifts, jewellery, cakes toys and raffle prizes amongst the others stalls together with a chance to win one of Ray Gigg’s unusual photos, in this case Waylands Smithy. We served teas and there were several games and a quiz for the children. Apart from actual buying, the bazaar is a good social occasion and an opportunity to catch up with neighbours and the village news.
Barn Dance - September 09
The Ashbury Manor Barn was decorated with straw, maize, flowers and hops for the traditional Family Barn Dance run by St Mary’s Church PCC. The trio, Jugged Hare, played and just under 90 people aged between 2 and 80+ years joined in, either dancing or enjoying the music and watching. The central area in the barn was full of dancers all evening except for the short break when a ploughman’s supper was served. Thanks go to everyone who helped with the organisation or attended the event – it would not have been possible without you.
Auction - July 09. On 4th July an Auction was held at Ashbury Village Hall to raise funds for St Mary's Church. Villagers very generously donated a vast range of items, including household goods, furniture, bikes, toys, antiques, garden equipment and even a car! There was also an "Auction of Promises". The event was well attended and much enjoyed. The items were sold on the basis of a 50/50 split between the seller and St Mary's Church, though many sellers generously declined their half. The Auction raised a massive profit of £1044.45. Thanks are due to the excellent team of people who helped put the event on, to everyone who donated goods and promises, and last but by no means least, to those who bought things.
Ashbury Church Christmas Bazaar - November 08. We were fortunate that the weather was fine on 29th November and a large number of villagers made their way to Ashbury Village Hall, along with relatives and former residents, for the Annual Church Christmas Bazaar. They enjoyed a chat with one another, some guessing games, the wide choice of items for sale and, on the White Elephant Stall, the possibility of finding a future Antiques Road Show "find". We raised over £1300, a little more than last year despite the "credit crunch" and would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it such a successful afternoon.
Safari Supper - October 08. On 11th October Judy Clarke organised a Safari Supper to raise funds for St. Mary’s Church. Twenty-Five villagers commenced the evening with a champagne welcome and then visited various homes in the village for starters. Then it was all change again for the main course. The evening was completed with dessert at the Clarke’s. Everyone had a fun evening, getting together with villagers, some of whom were new to the village. The event raised over £300 for St Mary’s. Judy and the Church wish to thank all who attended and contributed to a very enjoyable evening.
Ashbury 1988 gives a valuable historical account of the Parish Church and Manor House; it was written by Peter Knott, a former resident of the village and knowledgeable historian. Profits made from the sale of the brochure go to the Church Restoration Fund. Contact: 710333. You will find the brochure on the Archives page (click here)
Interesting Facts about the Church and Parish of Ashbury written by he Rev. A Fosbroke-Hobbs MA, vicar from 1921 to 1934 may also be read on the Archives page (click here).
Ashbury Evangelical Free Church Centenary Celebrations Booklet 1908 - 2009 compiled and edited by Suzanne Bunce can be found on the Archives page (click here).
The Ashbury, Compton, Longcot & Fernham Newsletter is issued monthly; it includes Church calendars, Benefice news, details of various courses, study groups, and meetings, articles about country matters and dates of forthcoming social events (Contact: 710302).