Local Action for Refugees

Here are just a few of the ways you can help…

Donations: Farnham Help for refugees in the UK & Overseas are collecting donations in October. Check their Facebook page for details of what items are needed and where to take them. There is a drop-off point in Farnham at Anytime Fitness  where you can drop off donations at any time. Most needed are: New men’s boxers and socks (size s/m) and warm clothes, coats, t-shirts, shoes, joggers and essential toiletries. (See the facebook page online for more)

Housing: As more refugees are welcomed in to the area, housing will be needed so that families can move out of emergency accommodation. Council housing cannot be used for this, so private rental housing is needed. The diocese are hoping to help find more landlords willing to house refugee families. If you have a property you would be willing to let, to help a family, please get in touch. Diane.peters@cofeguildford.org.uk

Volunteering: Volunteers are also much needed, as an essential part of settling in, sorting paperwork and becoming part of the local community. If you can offer help with lifts, appointments, paperwork and befriending please get in touch Diane.peters@cofeguildford.org.uk

Autumn Challenge

By Steph Farry

It can be so hard to say goodbye to the golden days of summer. Even if your day to day life doesn’t change much over July and August, there’s a sense of freedom and opportunity that can be missing from the other seasons.

If you’re looking for ways to find joy in the shortening days and misty mornings, why not try this autumn challenge? There are twenty activities to help celebrate the special pleasures of this time of year. You could even challenge a friend to complete them, and share pictures to show how you’re getting on! We do this each year, and it’s lovely to see our friends out on their adventures. Our rules are that you have to do the challenge in order, there’s no time limit on each activity, and you can switch activities as long as you keep to the ‘feel’ of the original (for instance, don’t drink cider? Try an apple juice, or pear cordial!).

1. Go outside, smell the air, and set an intention to enjoy the new season.

2. Pick up a conker, or a handful of acorns, and put them somewhere you’ll see often.

3. Bake something autumnal (eg pumpkin bread).

4. Drink some cider.

5. Watch a film or TV programme with an autumn ‘feel’ (eg Gilmore Girls, You Got Mail, Mona Lisa Smile, Casper).

6. Make a ‘happiness capsule’ with some treats or special memory items, to open if you need a boost of joy later in the season – or better still, make one for someone else!

7. Make an autumn craft (eg a leaf wreath, wooden wind chime, pinecone creatures), or put up some fairy lights.

8. Do a random act of kindness.

9. Plant some bulbs for spring.

10. Make and listen to an autumn themed playlist.

11. Mess about in some fallen leaves.

12. Practice loving kindness meditation.

13. Cuddle up with a cosy blanket and a book.

14. Clear out some old clothes to donate to charity.

15. Do a puzzle or crossword.

16. Find a really beautiful autumn tree.

17. Make or buy an autumn themed hot drink

18. Cook a stew.

19. Knit something (choose a small project!).

20. Drink hot chocolate under the stars.

Share your pictures with us on Facebook @StMarysashVale and @AshValeChapel #AutumnChallenge

Remembering Ada Young

By Nikki Glover

As Church Warden, one of my duties is taking care of the church and organising clean-up days indoors and out. Our team of helpers have been busy  sprucing up the area around Ada’s memorial stone, and I wanted to find out a bit about her and share it with you all, so she is remembered in our community. Here is what I was able to find out:

Ada Francis Young was born on January the 1st 1899, the second child of Edward and Francis young of 87 Heath vale bridge road. On February 15th 1899 she was baptised in the tin church that used to be on this site called the mission of St Mary. 

Her father was a cab proprietor and had a boarding stables and also employed his brother. The  Ash Vale hotel was 3 properties away and her father and uncle would have been quite busy driving the handsome cab to and from the train station collecting passengers.

By 1911 the family and business had moved to 11 station road in Ash Vale, and Ada now had 6 siblings, on October 2nd 1911, her older brother Edwin joined the navy. In 1915 able seaman Edwin Young was sent to Gosport for torpedo training on H.M.S Vernon. Tragically, on September 10th 1915 he died in an accidental explosion when a charge exploded prematurely. Ada then became the eldest child with all the responsibility that that entails. She was courting a young man who also served and unfortunately died during the Great War. So much tragedy for an 18 year old girl to deal with, but she became a nurse and served throughout the war.

Ada loved music, particularly hymns, and she actually paid for our church organ. She was very busy within church life, and I like to believe that this helped heal her grieving heart, for she never married and never spoke about her brother or fiancé to anyone that I could find. 

She was very good at getting others to do what she wanted and I would call her a woman of strong morals and faith. She loved wild flowers and liked to look through her book naming them all.

When she died on October 2nd 1987, Ada left a very large bequest to St Mary’s, which has helped us for many years. This memorial stone is a very small token of remembrance for a remarkably lived life.

If you have memories of St Mary’s in years gone by, why not send them in? We would love to hear your stories. Email

parishioner@ash-vale.org.uk  or pop in for a chat. 

An update on the ‘Save the Ranges’ campaign

By Tim Jones

You may have seen news about the Save the Ranges campaign in a previous special edition of The Parishioner. We reached out to the team for an update, and here is the latest news:

Back in May, we were copied on a letter from Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt & Jonathan Lord (our local MPs) to Jeremy Quin (The Minister of State for Defence Procurement) and to our surprise, the letter suggested that the MPs totally understood our position and were also questioning the validity of the reasons the DIO had provided for closing the ranges. However, the good feeling was short lived as nothing happened before the parliamentary recess and despite follow up emails from the campaigners there’s been no further response from any of the MPs nor Jeremy Quin.

Not to be disheartened, we took our campaign to the national press in July. Beginning with an article in the Guardian & Observer, which empathised with the local people about what has been taken away from them. Off the back of that article, we were contacted by BBC South Today who wanted a segment for their evening news. This aired on August 5th and featured interviews with people involved with the campaign as well as an excellent soundbite from Neil Lambert, barely able to contain his frustration about the issue and how it’s been handled by the politicians. There has since been further press coverage of the issue via BBC Radio Surrey and Private Eye magazine.

Thanks to the press coverage, we received sufficient donations to be able to start the legal proceeding to get a clearer view on the legality of the closure. Many thanks to those who have donated. Any unused funds collected will be donated to the charity : Help for Heroes

Tim Jones – https://saveourspaces.co.uk/  

Age UK Surrey and Guildford Borough Council celebrate over 25 years of Shopmobility in Guildford

We are celebrating over 25 years of Shopmobility!  Shopmobility located on Level 3, Bedford Road Car Park, Guildford, is a service run by Age UK Surrey with support by Guildford Borough Council.  A wide selection of manual or powered wheelchairs and scooters are available for hire to any age group (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult) and you do not have to be registered disabled to use the scheme.  Free parking area is available while using the service.  All hires must be pre-booked.  Open Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 4.30pm (closed Sunday and on bank holidays).  For hire costs and to pre-book a scooter  call 01483 453993 or email: shopmobility@ageuksurrey.org.uk

“I would simply not be able to visit Guildford for shopping or other leisure activities such as having a picnic down by the riverbank if it were not for Shopmobility”.  Anil – Shopmobility client.

Sue Zirps, Age UK Surrey Chief Executive said “We are delighted to have provided a Shopmobility service for over 25 years with the support of Guildford Borough Council.  This is a vital service for many people, with mobility issues, who would otherwise find it difficult to access the wide selection of shops, restaurants, cafes and entertainment that Guildford town centre has to offer”. 

Guildford Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Community, Cllr Julia McShane, added: “Congratulations to Age UK Surrey on the 25th anniversary of their Guildford Shopmobility scheme. “Our town centre is a thriving and exciting place for everyone in the community, and should be enjoyed by everyone equally. Shopmobility is available to anyone who finds it difficult to walk because of a permanent or temporary disability, frailty, accident or illness.” 

Service user Anil has been using Shomobility for the past few years “I would thoroughly recommend it.  Whether it’s just to enjoy cruising around Guildford without the effort of having to walk and deal with Guildford’s hilly terrain or like me you have real mobility issues!  The friendly willingness to be of help shown by the small close-knit Shopmobility team, often going the extra mile for their customers, is outstanding. Should you encounter any issues whilst out and about on a Shopmobility scooter, the team are always contactable by phone”. 

Would you like to know more about Age UK Surrey?  Age UK Surrey is an independent local charity.  We work across Surrey to help improve the lives of older people. Our services are designed to enable older people remain independent and informed, healthy and active and connected to their communities.  We help combat loneliness and social isolation.  More  information is available on the website: www.ageuk.org.uk/surrey

Ash and Ash Vale Community Street Team

By Pat Scott

The Ash & Ash Vale Community Street Team are a friendly group of volunteers from the local community that go out and talk to young people and anyone else they meet on their patrols.  Their objective is to break down barriers between different age groups in the Parish.

Traditionally, public safety has been the domain of law enforcement. When crime and Anti-social Behaviour occurs, we tend to look to law enforcement for reduction strategies. However, increasingly over the past few years, research has shown that you can’t have sustained, long term reductions in violence and crime without engaging residents in the public safety process. That’s to say that you can’t have “public safety” without the “public”.

Our Teams of Volunteers go on pre-arranged Outings in pairs around Ash and Ash Vale and act as a service to the community, bridging the gap between the generations and offering mainly young people the chance to chat and simply talk to someone who will listen.

Since starting over 12 years ago, the Street Team have 18 volunteers of various ages.  The Team originally received funding from Surrey County Council, allowing them to buy uniforms and back packs which carry hot drinks in the winter and cold drinks in the summer.   Members of the team live in the local area, and are well known within the Community with their logo marked hi-viz jackets, fleeces and backpacks. 

Pat Scott, who Chairs the group, said:

“We try to go to places where young people gather. We want to let them know that not all people over the age of 40 are about to collect their pension, and similarly let older people know that not everyone under the age of 25 is ‘up to no good’ even in small groups.”

Often, we just listen to people who feel they cannot talk to their parents or teachers for whatever reason, Pat said. “Young people can get very pressurised at school and worry about exams etc., and it can really help to just have an outsider to talk to.” or signpost local events of interest.

Helping the elderly is also important. “On one occasion, a Team met an older lady who was frightened about crossing the park in the dark because she had seen some youths there,” The Team offered their help. “We went with her, and the youths actually turned around and said “good night” to us. It made the lady feel that they are not all bad after all.”

Can you spare an hour or two a month? Or perhaps you are looking for something different to do, meeting new people and making new friends whilst also taking a little exercise, then why not join us?

If you would like to go out on a ‘taster session’ to see if this could be something you would enjoy please contact Pat (Scott) on scott.lpd@outlook.com.

Autumn Bible Study (2 Corinthians 3:3-11; 16-18)

By Helen Lambert

What do you like best about Autumn?  For some, it is the bountiful ending of Summer – the “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, with its ripening fruit, beautiful berries and glorious colours.  For others, it is a beginning rather than an ending – the start of a new school year, or perhaps even a new school, maybe a new job, the start of a new season.  This year, that newness is being felt even more keenly as we venture out into the “new normal” of living with COVID.  What aspects of life have you been forced to re-think as you emerge from the restrictions of the past 18 months?  Have things “gone back to normal”, or has everything changed?  Have any changes been for the better?  For Christians in general, and for those of us at St Mary’s in particular, we are challenged to consider what this might mean for the church?  Could this be a God-given opportunity to re-think what the church should look like?  Do we meet God in the security of the past, and “get back to normal” as quickly as possible?  Or do we step into whatever re-imagined future he might be wanting to lead us into, building on our traditions without being tied to them?

In this month’s reading, taken from one of Paul’s letters to the fledgling church in Corinth, Paul focuses on the “new way” versus the “old way”. 

It is a tricky passage to understand without some background:  Paul begins by talking about the Covenant, or agreement, which God made with the people of Israel, and particularly about the Law (commandments) which he gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, and which were carved on tablets of stone (v7).  This Law was God’s most precious gift to his people, for it revealed his heart and his will for them and showed them how they were to live in relationship with Him and with each other.  Moreover, it was revealed to them by Moses, who met with God “as one meets with a friend” (Exodus 33:11).  When Moses returned from meeting God, he would have to wear a veil over his face because he was so radiant (v7)! The Covenant was that if the people kept God’s Law, he would be their God and bless them.  However, as the whole story of the Old Testament reveals, God’s people were unable to live according to God’s ways, so the Law that should have brought them life and blessing, instead brought “condemnation” (v9).

So, was the “old way” (v7) good or bad?  Count how many times the word “glory” or “glorious” appears in this passage?  How many of these are associated with the “old way”?

It is clear that God’s Law was indeed “glorious” – and was intended to be life-giving to those who received it.  It was nothing less than God’s revelation of himself in written form.  However, Paul revealed to them a “new way” that was even more glorious (v9)!  What does he tell us about this new way?  Where does it come from and why is it so much more glorious?

Firstly, the new way comes from the Holy Spirit, who is the presence of God himself in our lives (v8; v17).  Like the Law, it is God’s revelation to us, but unlike the Law, it is written on our hearts (v3). Secondly, the new way “makes us right with God” (v9) in a way that the old way was unable to.  No wonder it is more glorious!  Finally, we read that the new way has replaced the old way and, in contrast to it, the new way will last for ever (v11).

So Paul honours the “old way”, acknowledging how wonderful it was, but he does not want the believers to be tied to it when the new way is so much better in every way.  Are there any lessons here for the church?  Perhaps you can share your thoughts with us!

Lest we are tempted to embrace novelty for novelty’s sake (or indeed, hold on to the past for its own sake), the final verses of chapter 3 remind us of our calling and purpose as the people of God.  Like Moses, we are to reflect the glory or God as we ourselves are changed by His Spirit to become more and more like His Son Jesus.  Moses’ radiance (see above) was a reflection of his relationship with God – may we too, as individuals and as the church, reflect God’s glory in our community.

“Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away…so all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.  And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”(v16;18)

(2 Corinthians 3:3-11; 16-18)

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Bible Gateway site is available here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3&version=NIV

Save the date – Christmas Tree Exhibition

A Christmas tree display with the theme of Christmas Carols will be held in St. Peter’s Church on 4th and 5th of December.  Groups or individuals can join in the fun by choosing a Carol and decorating a tree, real or artificial and any size. The church will be decorated with nativity sets, greenery and candles and help us all get in the Christmas season. If you would like get creative for Christmas please contact Barbara Rose 07761808727.

Creative vocal music workshops and wellbeing

A FREE series of voice workshops as part of a research project with the University of Surrey.      

Would you like to have a go at using your voice in a musical and creative way? Would you like to help with a research project into our voice and wellbeing? Non-singers and singers are all welcome. No audition and no experience are necessary, and you do not need to read music. You just need a willingness to begin to explore your voice and discuss how it makes you feel.

This is a free series of six weekly, supportive and fun workshops at Ash Vale Chapel, Wharf Road, GU12 5AY. On Fridays 12.30 pm to 2.00 pm (with a break for refreshments) commencing with an introductory session on 1st October 2021. Please be assured that the most recent government guidelines regarding COVID will be in place at all times.

If you are interested or want to know more, please phone, text, or leave a message on 0778 533 4049 and feel free to drop in on Friday 1st October between 12.30 pm and 2 pm.