A history of worship in Ashtead…
Photo of old church being moved
A clip from the Daily Mirror, 13-Dec-1905, where moving the iron church made national headlines

At this special Anniversary time, St Giles' bells will be ringing out a greeting to her younger sister. But best wishes will also come from St Michael's and Ashtead Baptist Church. The differences between the denominations certainly matter less now than 100 years ago, and Ashtead's churches all stand together in their service of the village. Here is a brief 'time-line' to show how they have developed through the years…

St Michael's Catholic Church
1923Church built in Leatherhead, as Ashtead becomes part of its parish
1944Mass celebrated in a double garage (and later an Army hut) on the current site
1948Father St Claire Hill is first resident priest
1956Father Maxwell starts church building fund
1967Foundation stone is laid by the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton
1986Church Hall is built
Ashtead Baptist Church
1895Ashtead Gospel Mission sets up today's Constitutional Hall, Barnett Wood Lane
1913Name changed to Ashtead Free Church
1924Moves to current site
1934Church Hall is added
1990New church lounge added
1995Changes the name to Ashtead Baptist Church
St Giles' Parish Church
1120Dedication of a Church or Chapel recorded
1200sThe Norman Church probably became the Church in its own right
1859Railway comes to Ashtead, growing the need for further places of worship
1873The six bells recast and two more added - still rung each Sunday
St George's Parish Church
1882Small Iron Church built in the north of the Parish
1899Fundraising begins for a new church
1906St George's Opens
1954Church Hall is built
1964New south aisle adds a further 120 seats
2001Extension and refurbishment creates newly-named St George's Christian Centre
And the Rectors covering the 100 years…
1887Francis Granville Lewis Lucas
1907Richard Alfred Woodham Waddilove
1928Edmund John Austin
1942(William Hugh) Alan Cooper
1951(George) John Halsey
1966John Francis Wentworth Watson
1972Richard George Askew
1983Christopher C Hughes
1999Dr Robert John Kiteley

next/forwardGo to next article - Cross purposes - Rector's article
See also list of Past Rectors & Vicars of the Parish of Ashtead who have been here since 1282
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