15th March: Resound Worship concert at St Mary’s
New windows for The Chapel!
Have you seen? The Chapel Project in Ash Vale has lovely new windows, and the best thing about them is, they are double glazed! Have a look next time you are passing and let us know what you think. Why not pop in to Monday Chapel Cafe to see them from the inside too?
We would like to say a huge thank you to all involved with the project, and in particular to Your Fund Surrey – Small Projects Scheme, who supported us with a grant. Special thanks also go to our local councillor Carla Morson, who very kindly supported our application and has been so supportive of all the Chapel projects over the years.
The Chapel is a well used local building, much loved and well attended by the local community. We host Chapel Cafe (a Warm Welcome hub) on Mondays 9:30-12:30 in term time, Chapel Kids (baby and toddler group and Lunch club) on Wednesdays 11:00-14:00, Chapel Craft group on Wednesday nights 8-10pm, and of course prayers, worship and Sunday Services at weekends led by New Way Christian Life Fellowship. Adding to this, the Ash Vale Community Fridge is based here – open 24/7 in the car park. We also host the local Foodbank team here, who are in and out 6 days a week with donations, deliveries, stock checks and supplies. They pack Food Parcels on Wednesdays and Fridays that go out to local people in need every week. (Watch this space – we are planning a Food Forum for like minded charities in March!)
Why double glazing? Having committed to aiming for carbon net zero by 2030, the Chapel Management Committee have agreed a strategy to move away from fossil fuels. Our quick wins in phase 1 were simple improvements like a better heating schedule, dealing with drafts, planting some trees, reducing waste and doing more recycling. Double Glazing is undoubtedly the most important step in Phase 2 that takes us a long way forward on the net zero journey. We are already noticing how much better the room tempreature is, now that the heat loss from the windows has been drastically reduced.
The real heroes of the windows phase were Truglaze in Frimley who have been superb throughout this double glazing project. They measured up precisely, removed the old units carefully, and installed the lovely new windows and doors beautifully. We were extremely impressed when – to overcome a delay due to the glass being delivered late – they sent several installation teams over to work together and do the fitting in a day, so we could be all done and ready in time for Christmas Foodbank. It was a superhuman effort, and a big challenge for Lisa co-ordinating everyone. We would like to say a huge thank you to them all.
What next? Phase 3 will be to see how we can reduce heat loss through insulation of the ceilings and floors – another big job, but a crucial one before we can move away from gas heating. And then the final phase will be to explore things like solar power and air source heat pumps, and see what we can to to complete the move away from fossil fuel. Would you like to support us with phase 3? Our donations link is open, and we would be glad of you support. thank you! https://givealittle.co/c/506zJ4CysgBvk5OPRjRZLF
Photos: Truglaze Team working their Christmas magic / Cllr Carla Morson and Revd Anne Day celebrating the new windows / Beautiful Chapel windows up close / Foodbank Team were the first to enjoy the warmer Chapel with the double glazing in, as they packed the Christmas Parcels.
If you would like to know more about the Foodbank #AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject you can click here: https://ash-vale.org.uk/foodparcels-2/
If you would like to know more about Truglaze their website link is here: https://truglaze.co.uk/
Join us for Contemplative Prayer
You may have seen in the church notices: Contemplative prayer is starting up again, monthly on Sundays 6.30pm
The next meetings will be Sunday 19 January (this sunday)
Sunday 16 February
Sunday 16 March
🙏 #ContemplativePrayer
All welcome / free / no need to book just come and join us at 6:30pm
Quiz Night Thank You!
Wow!! A big THANK YOU to David Brown and all the quizzers tonight at the Victoria Hall! An amazing amount raised, and £426.50 of it is going to the Ash Villages Food Parcels Project, to support families in need locally.
Thank you so much, this will make an huge difference, especially during the cold winter when balancing the costs of heating and eating are a challenge for many.
Thank you for a super evening and see you at the next one!
#AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject #ashvictoriahall #FoodBank #Community #AshVillagesSupportCircle
Foodbank needs in 2025?
Have you made a New Year resolution to help those in need in the community? There’s an app for that! “Bank the food” Have a guess – what’s the item we most urgently need? You can find out on the app.
Choose any foodbank to support on the app. Our local one is called the Ash Villages Food Parcels Project. Download the app here:
https://www.bankthefood.org
You can find out more about our Ash Villages Food Parcels Project here: https://ash-vale.org.uk/foodparcels-2/
You can also simply donate to St Mary’s in support of all our projects (community cafe, Chapel, toddlers, net zero programme… ) pop in or contact us to find out more.
We wish you every blessing in 2025. Come in and join us, any Sunday 10:30am for the church service and / or cuppa afterwards, we would love to welcome you.
Ash Victoria Hall News & Upcoming Quiz!
by Dave Brown
Ash Victoria Hall stands proudly on Ash Hill Road having served the community for over 125 years. Built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. All parishes were encouraged to mark the event in 1897. Ash’s choice was between the Hall and a travelling nurse scheme (years of course before the NHS). Promoting the Hall was a local eccentric called James Payne. It was decided to go with the Hall and James Payne managed to persuade Dr Chester to contribute land and finances to build the Hall which was officially opened in 1898 with 300 people in the Main Hall. James Payne wrote a song of the Hall and later, when the Clock was installed a song of the clock. These are on display in the Main Hall. The side hall was built a little later and has been three spaces since then. The early years were quite difficult financially but the Hall survived offering spaces to a wide range of activities. During the First World War the ladies of the parish wrote letters to unattached men at the front. This was when charity work was started when events were held to support orphans. More information can be obtained from the Ash Museum website.
On site, at various times, has been a school, dentist and citizen’s advice bureau. When there was a flooding in the parish the then caretaker, Joyce Thornton, immediately offered up the Hall for those displaced. This is a theme running through the Hall throughout the Hall’s history. At the front of the Hall is the phrase ‘Deeds not words define man’s worth’. This is a variation of an old proverb but I like to think that this precise offering is down to James Payne.
For many years the Hall rolled along making ends meet but a couple of events resulted in a blossoming of bookings. The Parish Council, believing they owned the Hall, commissioned a survey which decided there was around £70,000 worth of work required. At this point some research was done and it was discovered the Hall was not in fact owned by APC but a trust of which APC was the guardian trustee. This survey galvanised the management committee, who are all unpaid volunteers, into fund raising and eventually all the necessary work was completed. However this prompted myself to start doing charity quizzes and then along came the clock issue which certainly gained local and national attention. As they say there is no such thing as bad publicity. The Hall is now home to 32 regular groups literally cradle to grave with Ash Childminders and several U3A groups. The only quiz that I have done for the Hall is one for the clock when the local community turned out in force and supplied many raffle prizes.
The Hall now embarks on a series of fund-raising events for local, national and one international charity. The challenge set for the year 2024 was to reach £10,000 during the year which was achieved in the first weekend in December. There are quizzes every three or four weeks a brass quintet recital and a gig from local band Out of The Shadows. The same target is in place for 2025 and starts with a quiz on Friday January 3rd when half the proceeds will go to the local food bank with the other half to sponsor a student who is attending Camp International in Borneo. Later in January (24th) the quiz is for Southwest Surrey Citizen’s Advice. A full list of quizzes and events can be viewed on the Bridges community board and outside Victoria Hall or by contacting me at chairman@ashvictoriahall.org.uk
Dave Brown
Chairman, Ash Victoria Hall
CHARITY EVENTS AT ASH VICTORIA HALL
Friday January 3rd 2025 – Quiz in aid of the local food bank and a local student attending Camp International.
Friday January 24th 2025 – Quiz in aid of South West Surrey Citizen’s Advice
Friday February 21st 2025 – Quiz in aid of British Heart Foundation
Friday March 21st 2025 – Quiz in aid of The Autism Trust
Friday April 11th 2025 – Quiz in aid of Mencap
Friday May 2nd 2025 –Quiz in aid of Parity (Farnborough)
Friday May 30th 2025 – Quiz in aid of Hand in Hand Ethiopia
Friday August 29th 2025 – Quiz in aid of Friends of Bell Piece
Saturday December 6th 2025 – Out of the Shadows gig
Quizzes are £5 per person and there will be a raffle with a 7.30 start. Information on all these events can be obtained by contacting Dave Brown at chairman@ashvictoriahall.org.uk
Christingle Journey 24thDec 3-6pm
Join us to make a Christingle, explore ‘Bethlehem’, have a drink with the Innkeeper, Make s’mores with the shepherds, see baby Jesus, and enjoy Revd Neil’s legendary cooking! Book a start time (we have start times every 10 minutes 3-5pm) and join the fun! 07730609446 text or phone to book.
Free / Donations for the Children’s Society
Dress for the weather and wear your wellies as the garden can get muddy! Nativity costumes optional 🌟#FollowTheStar
St Mary’s Church, Vale Rd, Ash Vale, GU12 5JE. 24th December 2024 3-6pm
That’s a wrap! Christmas Foodbank 2024
Hats off to the Wonderful Wednesday team and the Fabulous Friday Foodbank team who packed and delivered a record number of Christmas Food Parcels this week. Big shout out to our delivery drivers who responded to the SOS for help as well when we needed more hands on deck. It’s sad that so many of our neighbours are in need, but what a joy to be able to help make Christmas a little better in this way. Huge thanks to all involved, and everyone who donated so generously towards the Christmas Foodbank this week. We couldn’t have done it without you! Enormous amount of food and gifts donated, wrapped, packed and delivered with love from the local community to our neighbours who are struggling. Our community is the best! Everyone looks after each other, this is why we love where we live! 💕✨🎄🙏🎁💐💕✨
Ps – Foodbank is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our amazing volunteers are back in action the week after. If you need a referral you can contact citizens advice, social services, GP, school, other agencies, or any of our local churches and they can refer you to us. The foodbank team packs and delivers parcels on Wednesday and Friday mornings. The deadline for contacting us is 5pm the night before.
If you would like to help us, we need support every week to look after anyone who needs help that week. This need is all year round! How about making a regular donation? Thank you! https://givealittle.co/c/7a47190c-ad4e-4cf9-8662-da844101a41c
Carols by Candlelight Sunday 22nd Dec 2024 6:30pm
Join us this Sunday for a wonderful carol service by candlelight, with choir, musicians, readings, and a chance to sing lots of your favourite carols. 6:30pm start, come early for a good seat! Mulled wine and mince pies served afterwards.
All Welcome.
free / donations appreciated
#CarolsByCandlelight
#CarolService
#Christmas2024
#FollowTheStar
#StMarysAshVale
St Mary’s Ash Vale, Vale Rd, GU12 5JE
Thank you Ash Manor School!
Thank you to everyone at Ash Manor school who has given such thoughtful and lovely donations to our foodbank this term. Your wonderful Student Heads of House and Mr Hicks gave us a warm welcome, and helped us to pack the donated items. We collected everything this morning, and took your gifts to the Chapel ready for the final Christmas Food Parcels on Friday.
With this kindness and generosity, you are helping to make Christmas a lot brighter for local families who need support this year. It makes a huge difference. What a wonderful community we have here, where everyone looks after one another. Thank you for your support!
Photo by kind permission from the school