Vision Statement

The Rector’s Vision Statement: Ministry together rooted in Christ

‘As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.’ (Colossian 2. 6-7)

I am called with the people of Ashley to witness the embodiment of the Risen Christ in this community. Our witness is valid and righteous because Jesus is everything to us giving us life, filling it with love and setting us free from sin that we might live in his love. May the incarnate God take the work of our hands and let good come of it. May he take our lives, give us peace, and renew us in his glad service.

Worship & Prayer

At the heart of the Church's work in this Parish is the declaration of its prayer life by means of services whose richness and beauty carry a wholeness and peace.

Witness in the World: Stewardship & Care

In recent years the weekly running costs have increased steeply, so much so that income and expenditure are only just keeping pace with each other. Whilst crisis point has not been reached, we must act now if the Church is to continue on a sound financial footing. Every now and then it is usual to hold a Stewardship Campaign which is what we will be doing when we remind people that just as their costs are going up at home, so are the costs in Church. Clearly, we need to fund the work of this parish but we don’t give just because the Church needs resources but we give in response to God’s generous love.

In all this we want to embrace a Parish Funding Programme that seeks to bring together both stewardship of the village Church and our Christian witness in the community. This programme would allow us to think realistically about our giving, not just how much but how we give. We don't give just because the Church needs money (which it does), but in response to the love and generosity of the Living God.

I am very pleased to give our on going  Stewardship Campaign my wholehearted support and encouragement. I do hope that you will also feel able to support this review of your giving of time, talents and money as it is vitally important to the life and future of St John the Baptist Church here in Ashley. May the incarnate God take the work of our hands and let good come of it. May he take our lives, give us peace, and renew us in his glad service.</span>

Witness to the World: Evangelism & Out Reach

Mission is heart speaking to heart across the suffering of the human condition. It is the tiny movement of the Spirit in local places where the members of the Church take others under their wing just as the everlasting God has us all under his enduring wings. We seek to lead all to Christ by Church contact with the wider community and see this as an important part of a much larger process of Church growth. This may take many years to realise. But we are the people of faith. And it is in the faith of Christ Jesus that we continue this important work.

Father David

Stewardship Campaign 2022