Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 18th Feb 2026. If you would like to come to the Ash Wednesday Evening Service it starts at 18:30. All Welcome.
You are very welcome to join us, for this service and for any other service too. It doesn’t matter if you are a lifelong Christian, or just starting out on your faith journey. We are an inclusive church, and would love to welcome you. St Mary’s Church, Vale Rd, Ash Vale, GU12 5JE. Sunday Services are at 10:30am every week.
Lent bible study recommendation for 2026: St Mary’s will be using the resources available on Lectio 365. Ask Revd Neil Lambert if you would like to know more, or why not download the App. https://lectio365.com/
We are always looking for Volunteers at St Mary’s! Whether you can help with a tidy up day, offer some DIY skills, serve cups of tea, or fancy helping with some admin (e.g. hall hire bookings), there is always work to do.
Come and have a chat on Sunday or pop in to the Community Café one Friday if you would like to offer your time and talents.
Contemplative prayer meets on a Sunday evening at 6.30pm for about 45 minutes every month (dates can vary – check notices for upcoming dates). “1 Kings 19: 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ” Contemplative prayer is a time to be open to the gentle whisper of God. There are some pieces of music, some verses spoken, and time for reflection. But more importantly it is time for you to simply be in the presence of God.
If you would like to receive the weekly St Mary’s notices with upcoming dates please email to parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk and we can add you to the list.
Happy New Year! St Mary’s is delighted to have some new chairs in church, thanks to a very generous local family who have given these in memory of a loved one.
The old green chairs are now available for anyone who would like them. We would appreciate a donation to the church for each chair, as our next big job is repairing the roof! So come on down to St Mary’s, come and get some handy extra chairs, and pop in a donation to help keep the church going for generations to come. No set fee, just give what you can.
Pop in on Fridays 10:00-13:00 in term time while cafe is on (first one back is 9th Jan) or Sundays after the church service 11:45am, or drop us a text to arrange another time 07730609446
^ these are the old wooden chairs, available for a donation. Great as extra chairs for when you have visitors or parties, come and secure a piece of local history. They have served us well at St Mary’s. Yours for a donation.
You are all very welcome to join us for our Christmas Services here at St Mary’s on Vale Road this week!
Saturday 20th Dec: Interactive Christingle Journey Event (time slots every 10 minutes from 16:00-18:00) Make a Christingle, visit the Innkeeper for a drink, see the Wise Men, follow the star, enjoy the bonfire with the shepherds, and see baby Jesus. Not forgetting Revd Neil’s amazing food! This year we have falafel, delicious! A Christmas adventure in aid of The Children’s Society. Text to book 07730 609446
Christmas Eve 24th Dec: Midnight Mass 23:30 Come and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the first communion of Christmas. Let’s rejoice!
Christmas Day 25th Dec: Christmas Service 10:30 Join us to celebrate our Lord Jesus birth. Children welcome, bring along your favourite gift to show & tell!
ChristmasFoodbank we have just a few days to go before the Ash Villages Food Parcels Projects volunteer team delivers the Christmas parcels to local people in need this year. If anyone is yet to donate, we are ok for mince pies and cranberry but we still need Christmas puddings, custard, treats and lots of stuffing mix please. We will also be needing over 200 tins of all the basics (beans / sweetcorn / tomatoes / tuna / meat etc) so all donations will be very gratefully received! Thank you everyone.
Donations can be dropped off as follows
St Mary’s church, Ash Vale,Surrey. (Vale Road) – donations box in foyer: Friday (today) 10:00-13:00 (cafe open) Sunday 14th 10:30-12:30 (church open) Sunday 14th 6:30-8:00pm (open for the carol service)
The Ash Vale Chapel (Wharf Road) Donations can be dropped off to the Foodbank Team directly Friday (today) 8:30-9:30am Monday 15th 8:30am-2:30pm Tuesday 16th 8:30am-2:30pm / 6-9pm Wednesday 17th 2-5pm Thursday 18th 6-9pm
Or you can drop items off in Alex’s porch (project manager) 9am-9pm any day throughout the year. Pm for the address.
It’s our last Little Lambs (Tuesday at St Mary’s) and Chapel Kids (Wednesday at The Chapel) of the term this week, bring&share Christmas snacks, and why not wear your Christmas Jumpers? We look forward to welcoming you.
*Remember to book for the Christingle Journey event on Saturday 20th* so you can make your Christingle, have a drink at the inn, make s’mores with the shepherds, visit baby Jesus and enjoy Revd Neil’s amazing food! #Christingle
Saturday 29th Nov—Christmas Chill-out 14:30-16:30 at The Chapel (Wharf Rd) Join us for festive fun, cake sale, hotdogs, raffle, free kids craft, hot chocolate and more.
Saturday 6th December St Nicholas Day Lantern Walk. Set off from The Chapel (wharf Rd) at 16:45pm, for an atmospheric lantern walk to St Mary’s on Vale Rd, visit St Nicholas at St Mary’s from 17:00 and enjoy the food, friendship and fun. Text to book: 07730 609446
Sunday 14th December Carols by Candlelight 18.30 Come and share the joy of singing our favourite Christmas Carols by candlelight at this very special service at St Mary’s, (Vale rd) followed by mulled wine (alcohol free available) and a mince pie.
Wednesday 17th Dec Carol Singing at Ash Vale Station Come and bless our commuters with carols! 18:15-19:15
Saturday 20th December Christingle Journey Event (time slots every 10 minutes from 16:00-18:00) Make a Christingle, visit the Innkeeper for a drink, see the Wise Men, follow the star, enjoy the bonfire with the shepherds, and see baby Jesus. Not forgetting Revd Neil’s amazing food! A Christmas adventure at St Mary’s (Vale rd) in aid of The Children’s Society. Text to book 07730 609446
Christmas Eve 24th Dec Midnight Mass 23:30 Come and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the first communion of Christmas. Let’s rejoice!
Christmas Day 25th Dec: Christmas Service 10:30 Join us to celebrate our Lord Jesus’ birth. Children welcome, bring along your favourite gift to show & tell!
Christmas Generosity: This year we are asking for donations of Christmas treats and toys for the Foodbank please, also fundraising to support vulnerable communities in Uganda, and donations to bring some Christmas cheer to local Asylum Seekers & Refugees. To donate for any of our projects you can follow the link to see the projects donations list, donate in church, bring items in when we are open, or contact us on 07730 609446. Donations link: https://givealittle.co/c/61UABfqeCHjdTftgDlrsnDThank you!
Our local Food Bank for Ash, Ash Vale, Tongham and Ash Green is appealing for Christmas Hamper items, toys and winter warmers for local families this Christmas. #AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject
Not everyone will be in a position to help this year, but if you can, we will be very thankful. Donations can be dropped off on or before Sunday 14th December at St Mary’s Church Vale Rd on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays 10:00-12:00 or at The Chapel on Wharf Rd on Mondays and Wednesdays 9:00-1400, or other times by arrangement (please contact 07730609446) THANK YOU!
Ideas for things to donate? Hot water bottles, warm socks, blankets, new or good as new childrens toys (no cuddly toys please), sweets and treats, cranberry sauce, mince pies, biscuits, Christmas cake, crackers, Christmas pudding, custard, chocolates, seasonal fruit and veg, gravy granules, christmas activity books, board games, festive toiletries… think about what makes your Christmas special – let’s share some of that Christmas joy! Thank you for your support.
^Donations Link.Thank you for your supportfor local people in need this Christmas.
The Ash Villages Food Parcels Project is a joint project between the Ash Villages Support Circle and St Mary’s Church in Ash Vale, hosted at The Chapel Project, Ash Vale.
