roots down walls down
Please join us for the annual meeting of parishioners and APCM on Sunday 26 April 2026 at 12:00 in Church.
St Mary’s church, Vale Rd, Ash Vale, GU12 5JE
If you need a copy of the annual report please ask one of the PCC members in church or email the office. Thank you.
parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk
Did you know?
As part of our journey to become more eco-friendly, the St Mary’s Flower Team has been working to make our church flowers more sustainable. It’s not been easy, but they have done such an amazing job already, we wanted to celebrate their creativity!
Minimising the miles: Flowers in supermarkets and shops are often flown from all around the globe – how else would people be able to give roses on St Valentine’s Day, when roses are not in bloom in the UK? This means that many of the flowers available to buy – and especially at ‘budget’ prices – have a huge environmental cost in terms of their carbon footprint. Our Flower Team tries to reduce this impact by growing and using local whenever they can and it’s wonderful when local gardeners from our community offer their in-season greenery and flowers to help decorate the church. If you’re planting your garden this spring, why not sow a few extras for St Mary’s? Or wait to prune your greenery for when the Flower Team needs supplies? There are plans to set up a WhatsApp group to help share news on what’s available in our home gardens; if you’d like to join this group, please contact the Parish Office.
Phasing out single-use plastic: Traditional green floral foam blocks – often referred to by the famous brand name ‘Oasis’ – are made of plastic foam. New, plastic-free versions are being developed, but there is still uncertainty about how well they will actually biodegrade. The Flower Team has tried various alternatives with limited success in the past but change is in the air: our lovely Easter display this year was 100% floral foam free, relying instead on stacked vases, chicken-wire, twine and reusable ‘flower frogs’!
Reuse, repot, recycle: Instead of only using cut flowers this Easter, did you notice the beautiful pots of living flowers? These are on loan, will last several weeks and can then go back to their home to be enjoyed in the garden or grown on for next year. The team would love to do more with living plants throughout the year – if you’d like to help with growing and tending pots for seasonal displays, they’d love to hear from you.
If you are interested in helping the Flower Team with donations of flowers and plants, hands-on arranging, or making tea and wielding a vacuum cleaner (all essential team activities), please speak to Stephanie at church or email the Parish Office and your message will be passed on. Thank you! Parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk
There is a lot going on in Holy Week! Come and join us:
Thursday 2ndApril – Maundy Thursday Service and shared meal at St Mary’s (church on Vale Road GU12 5JE) 6pm for a 6:30pm start
Friday 3rdApril—Good Friday Walk of witness starts at St Marys 9:45am. We walk down to Ash Wharf for the 10:30am open air service at Ash Wharf with Churches Together, and NWCLF, then we have fellowship, tea and hot cross buns afterwards at The Chapel (Wharf Rd GU12 5AY)
St Mary’s church will be open from 2pm for prayer and meditation on the cross. Art and craft for all.
Saturday 4thApril Come and help decorate St Mary’s ready for Easter Sunday from 10am. Bring flowers with you or use the ones provided.
8pm we meet in the Vicarage Garden to share the story of the resurrection of Jesus around the bonfire.
Sunday 5th April—Easter Sunday! Yes!! We come together to celebrate the living Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. 10:30am start.
All welcome.
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Bishop Sarah Mullally will be installed as the New Archbishop of Canterbury this Wednesday. The service is due to be broadcast on BBC1 at 14.30pm.
You can download the order of service via the Church of England website online here:
Did you know? St Mary’s in Ash Vale is a relatively small church, but with a very big heart for our communtiy. We do not receive central funding but instead we are funded by church members, other generous donors, and some of our projects rely on grants and fundraising too.
This means that every year, we rely on local people – whether you come here on a Sunday or not – to help keep us to keep the church and our projects open for the community. Every cuppa, every hour of heating, every bulk delivery for the foodbank, every party bag, every leaflet, our water and electric, our staff – it all needs funding either by donations in kind or through generous financial contributions, so we can pay the bills. The joy in all this, is when we see the whole community coming together, to support this work for the community, in the community.
2025 was amazing! We delivered 1560 food parcels last year, feeding 4600 people. We served 30-40 people every week at community cafe and chapel cafe, welcomed 40+ people to the toddler groups each week, and saw many more friends old and new for church services, sundayschool, study groups, special church services… We also welcomed the whole community for Pancake day, picnic and play, Summer Fair, the light party and Christingle. We even managed to replace the ageing boiler, thanks to all of those who gave so generously. So we are already excited to see what happens in 2026!
2026 looks like a challenge financially though. We do very seriously need to ask you to please: review your financial support in 2026, consider carefully what you feel moved and able to give, and if possible make a commitment to donate regularly because this really helps us to budget and enables us to plan ahead. Your giving can keep our doors open and the community groups thriving.
We also need to say this – If you can manage to chip in, we do need help, but if you can’t this time, we of course understand too. Please do not worry if you can’t donate. Our groups and projects are for everyone, whether you can contribute or not. The beauty of church community life is that quite often these initiatives join up people with the time but no funds, and people with the funds and no time, those who can serve, and those who need help… and somehow it all comes together beautifully. Join in with what’s happening this year in whatever way works for you, and watch God at work!
Give a little donations link: https://givealittle.co/c/2BhuU1JZBDk3OoiZQKBAqk
Thank you for your support.
This year’s Churches Together service for the World Day of Prayer is kindly hosted by Holy Angels in Ash. Friday 6th March 2026 start time 7:30pm
World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women
who welcome you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice.
The 2026 World Day of Prayer materials from Nigeria bring us a powerful invitation drawn from Matthew 11:28-30. At a time when people worldwide are carrying heavy burdens, our Nigerian sisters offer profound insights into finding rest in God.
Find out more about WDOP here: https://worlddayofprayer.net/index.html#
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.
Thank you.
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.
Here’s whats on this term at St Mary’s (Vale Rd) and The Chapel (Wharf Rd)
Open Planning Meeting for toddler groups takes place at Chapel (Wharf Rd) this Wednesday 7th Jan 10:30am
Monday Chapel Cafe / Mondays 9:30-12:30 at the Chapel GU12 5AY (Starts back 5th Jan) Warm Welcome Venue
Ash CITIZENS advice team will be joining us at Monday Chapel Cafe on Monday 19th January and if this works well it may become a regular arrangement.
Little Lambs Library – Tuesday 10:00-13:00 at st Mary’s GU12 5JE (Starts back 13th Jan)
ChapelKids – Wednesdays 11am-2pm at The Chapel (starts next week 14th Jan)
Friday Community Cafe – Fridays 10:00-13:00 (lunch at 12) at St Mary’s (Warm welcome venue) starts back Friday 16th Jan
Church Services at St Mary’s (and Sunday-school) – 10:30am every Sunday followed by cuppa and chat in the large hall from about 11:45am
Love to sing? Join the church choir! Tuesdays 8pm at St Mary’s. No auditions just come and make a joyful noise.
All free / by donation, all welcome!