the parishes of st peter and st paul, ash and st peter, ridley€¦ · on being good neighbours....

1 St Peter and St Paul, Ash and St Peter, Ridley. Parish Profile 2017

The Parishes of St Peter and St Paul, Ash and St Peter, Ridley

“We hope that our new incumbent

will be someone who will quickly

relate to our diverse parishes,

understanding our historical

context as well as our current

issues and problems facing our

church congregations and the

wider community; and then lead

us into the new challenges of

restoring a church at the heart of

both parishes, a church that is

relevant and inclusive for all –

young and old – providing answers

to their questions and needs,

encouraging and building faith,

whilst remaining true to the

Christian Gospel and the traditions

of the Church of England.”


Contents 1 Welcome ......................................................................................................................................... 4

2 OUR VISION is: ................................................................................................................................ 4

3 We will offer you: ............................................................................................................................ 4

3.1 Current service arrangement .................................................................................................. 5

3.2 The Rectory ............................................................................................................................. 5

3.3 The Rural North West Kent Group .......................................................................................... 6

4 St Peter and St Paul, Ash ................................................................................................................. 7

4.1 Our Parish................................................................................................................................ 7

4.2 Housing ................................................................................................................................... 8

4.3 Employment and deprivation index ........................................................................................ 9

4.4 Older citizens .......................................................................................................................... 9

4.5 Education ................................................................................................................................ 9

4.6 Social, sporting and recreational activities ........................................................................... 10

4.7 Our Christian Community ..................................................................................................... 11

4.8 Finances ................................................................................................................................ 14

4.9 Our relationship with Ridley ................................................................................................. 14

4.10 Vital statistics ........................................................................................................................ 14

5 St Peter, Ridley .............................................................................................................................. 16

5.1 Our parish ............................................................................................................................. 16

5.2 Services and Worship. ........................................................................................................... 16

5.2.1 Service Schedule ........................................................................................................... 17

5.2.2 Others............................................................................................................................ 17

5.2.3 Attendance .................................................................................................................... 17

5.2.4 General .......................................................................................................................... 17

5.3 Church Buildings ................................................................................................................... 18

5.4 Teaching ................................................................................................................................ 19

5.5 Fellowship ............................................................................................................................. 19

5.6 Administration ...................................................................................................................... 19

5.7 Finances ................................................................................................................................ 20

5.8 St Peter's Ministry ................................................................................................................. 20

5.9 Major church development projects .................................................................................... 21

5.9.1 Garden of Remembrance/Ashes interment. ................................................................ 21

5.9.2 Provision of a water supply, toilet and basic kitchen facilities. .................................... 21

5.9.3 Churchyard and burials ................................................................................................. 22

5.10 Ecumenical ............................................................................................................................ 22


5.11 Publicity ................................................................................................................................. 22

5.12 Major features of Parish Life. ................................................................................................ 22

5.13 Concluding reflection ............................................................................................................ 23

6 The wider parish and Christian community .................................................................................. 23

6.1 Cobham Deanery .................................................................................................................. 23

6.2 Rochester Archdeaconry and Diocese .................................................................................. 24

6.3 Friends of Ash Church ........................................................................................................... 24

6.4 The Ridley Society ................................................................................................................. 24

6.5 Charities and Other Agencies ................................................................................................ 24

The view from Ash Church tower, towards Ridley Church in the centre of the distant ridge.


1 Welcome Thank you for taking the time to seek out our Parish Profiles. We hope that you will enjoy reading about the parishes of Ash and Ridley. We have taken the opportunity to explain something about who we are, the things we do, the challenges we face and of course the person we are seeking to become our new incumbent. It is most important that we are led prayerfully, joyfully, enthusiastically, thoughtfully and wisely into our future worship and community life, looking to the incumbent for leadership in developing our worship and our parishes. We will welcome and embrace a variety of qualities and experience. We are sure that you will find something in our churches and communities that will attract you to look further and potentially join and lead us in our spiritual journey.

2 OUR VISION is: To grow our communities and continue to meet the call of God’s Mission, in predominantly unchurched parishes, based on the knowledge and love of God and on being good neighbours. Therefore, we are seeking a full-time priest for the two parishes, to:

• serve God through prayer, worship and action;

• provide experience, commitment and leadership to our Christian communities with Biblical teaching that recognises the need to grow stronger inwardly and to re-energise the core;

• show care and faith outwardly, to enable vision and mission to be implemented;

• stimulate growth with new and creative outreach to the wider community;

• respect the values of traditional worship where appropriate;

• promote, encourage and support a culture of continuous learning and development amongst all those in leadership and pastoral roles.

3 We will offer you: • two friendly and welcoming local communities where the Parish Priest has a

valued place;

• loyal and hardworking teams within both Parishes covering a wide range of activities;

• church communities who are becoming more aware of the challenges facing the 21st century Church;

• two beautiful historic churches in reasonably good repair and fitting places for worship, both of which are open to visitors on a daily basis;


• the opportunity for you to live in a beautiful area, in a good community, with excellent links to London and nearby towns, motorways, Eurostar and airports;

• a modern four-bedroom Rectory in the heart of New Ash Green;

• the opportunity to collaborate with neighbouring churches as part of The Rural North West Kent Group of Churches.

3.1 Current service arrangement

Ash - currently has one BCP Communion service at 8am and two Common Worship Communions at 10.30 a month, one being said (with prayers for healing) and one sung. On the first Sunday of the month there is an All Age service of the Word and on the third Sunday Common Worship Morning Prayer. The liturgy used is variable in keeping with the times and seasons. Ridley - has one service of Communion per month and the rest of Morning Prayer at 9am, with a BCP Evening Prayer on the 4th Sunday of the month. Arrangements for the fifth Sunday vary, when they occur. Both congregations would be hoping to renegotiate the service type and frequency on appointment of new incumbent.

3.2 The Rectory

The Rectory is a four-bedroom property, built in the mid-1970s, on the attractive Lambardes neighbourhood, close to and almost overlooking the Minnis, the large central grassed area at the heart of New Ash Green adjoining the village shopping centre. It is in excellent decorative order, having been extended and modernised within the last ten years. The master bedroom contains a wash basin and the family

bathroom is very well-appointed. The family space downstairs has a good-sized modern kitchen, dining room, lounge, utility room and cloakroom. There is a separate study which has direct access from the entrance hallway. The house has a well-screened patio and garden that is not overlooked and has access directly to a pair of


inter-connected garages. Although New Ash Green is a large village in terms of population, virtually all of it is within walking distance of the Rectory, including an easy walk to the village primary school and village amenities. Secondary education is all located outside of the parish and further information is provided below.

3.3 The Rural North West Kent Group

After many years of successful shared involvement in the local ecumenical covenant of churches along with Longfield, Hartley and Fawkham, we wanted to formalise with the Church of England partners the sharing of resources and the holding of some joint services. This we did initially as a Cluster and then in December 2016 the Bishop gave authority for the cluster to become a Group. The Group consists of the benefices of Fawkham and Hartley, Longfield, Ash, and Ridley, known as “The Rural North West Kent Ministry”. The group has a Group Council who meet regularly and has two lay representatives with the clergy from each parish. The Group Council has created its constitution, logo and twitter account (@RNWKGroup). It is formulating its role and identifying how the churches can benefit from pooling resources. One of its priorities is a review of the churches’ youth work. To that end a working group has been established with representatives from the Group Council, together with representatives from the Diocese, the County Council and the civil parish councils. The working group has met on a number of occasions and is moving towards a recommendation to engage a professionally qualified youth worker jointly funded by the churches, the civil parish councils and matched funding. We now have a rota of services across the Group with publicity about the services held in each of the churches as well as those held jointly. In addition to Group Council meetings, the Group clergy meet as a Chapter to consider how best to share ministry, and they endeavour to preach in each other’s churches approximately once a quarter. The expectation is that the clergy will work collaboratively for the good of the whole Group. Each incumbent in the Group is licensed to his or her own benefice but also to the Group, so that clergy may minister across all the churches, but when acting outside his or her own benefice, clergy must act in accordance with the guidance of the parish’s incumbent. There is one SSM priest, in full time secular employment, serving the Group who lives in Ash parish.


4 St Peter and St Paul, Ash

4.1 Our Parish

The Domesday village of Eisse (Ash) probably has roots stretching back to Saxon or even Roman times (the buried remains of a Romano-British building still exist) and the church may be nearly as old although no trace of any Saxon building now remains. The parish consists of some 1,075 hectares of chalk downland, intersected by dry valleys. For centuries, until 1967, the area was an isolated farming backwater, despite its relative closeness to London, because neither main roads nor railways cross the parish. From 1801 to 1951, the population rose slowly from 427 in 83 houses to 1,017 in 206 houses. All this changed in 1967 when permission was given to the well-known architect, Eric Lyons, to build his vision of ‘a lush green urbanism – the Verdant Village’ on 175 hectares of farmland in the north-western corner of the parish.

That vision became the village of New Ash Green which now has 2,330 homes and a population of around 6,000. New Ash Green was established with a comprehensive system of local governance with 24 neighbourhood residents' societies who send delegates to the New Ash Green Village Association. These bodies are responsible for maintaining the extensive formal and informal open space, footpaths, woodlands

and other common facilities. The rest of the parish retains its rural character of mixed farmland and woodland with some 300 houses in the two hamlets of Ash and Hodsoll Street on its western and eastern edges and a scattering of properties in between. Recreational uses, mainly equestrian and golf, are prominent in parts of the parish, particularly its western edge. Several farms have now turned over some or all of their buildings to light industrial or office use. The total population of the parish has declined slightly between the 2001 and 2011 censuses to about 6,500. The parish of Ash including the modern village of New Ash Green is served by the 12th century, grade one listed medieval Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. The church occupies an isolated location close to the old village of Ash, but some 1½ miles away by road from much of the large housing development. Surrounded by fields, its position is idyllic; the downside is that it is not realistically within convenient walking distance of the majority of parishioners. The church has served its community well for at least 800 years and over that period it has undoubtedly been used in a wide variety of ways, not just for worship. In most centuries, there have been additions and alterations to its fabric to meet the needs of a changing world. The twenty-first century brings its own challenges as the uses of the medieval


building are again expanded. Although village and community halls exist in Ash and New Ash Green, they do not have the size, character and acoustics of the church building, and whilst they are well-used for many purposes, the church still stands out as a venue for, particularly, music as well as other events that take advantage of its light and airy space. At the cost of much time and energy, we have succeeded in 2017 in building an extension which houses two toilets (one for disabled access), the installation of kitchenette facilities and the creation of a new baptistry by relocating the 13th century font. Other recent improvements include complete level access to the church along a newly installed lit path. For christenings, weddings and funerals, Easter, Remembrance, St George’s Day and Christmas, the church is often filled well beyond its nominal seating of 127, and with congregations of over 200 the benefits of the new facilities have become obvious. As well as regular worship, the church is currently used for choir practice, bell-ringing and events such as a Flower Festival and a Christmas Tree Festival. With the new facilities in place, the congregation can now extend the use of the church building beyond the Sunday church services and occasional offices by holding more festivals, exhibitions, training sessions, coffee mornings and study groups, as well as utilising the excellent acoustics for concerts and other musical or dramatic events to bring in and enrich the wider community. There have been very few burials in the churchyard in recent years. The incumbent and PCC have looked at offering the space again but the planned groundworks for the kitchenette and toilet project have placed this on hold. The civil parish burial ground, adjacent to the churchyard, is now quite full and attempts are being made to find an alternative facility or extend its life.

4.2 Housing

New Ash Green attracted many young families when it was built in the 1960s and 1970s; those people are now approaching retirement age but a significant number of their grown-up children have settled in the village with others of a similar age because the mix of housing (across the parish roughly 25% detached, 33% semi-detached, 40% terraced) remains attractive to young families. Upsizing and downsizing is quite prevalent within New Ash Green. Elsewhere in the parish, the larger size of many properties means they are suitable for families although here too the trend is towards empty nests. Most of the housing is owner-occupied (86%), but there is a significant number of housing association (8%) and privately rented (6%) properties with the latter slowly increasing. There is also a large community of travellers on the 35-pitch site at Barnfield Park, Ash, estimated at around 120 people.


4.3 Employment and deprivation index

There is a significant number of people who commute to central London but who are balanced by others working closer to home in Dartford (including Bluewater), Gravesend and Sevenoaks. Most people work in service industries rather than manufacturing but the types of work are mixed. Half the economically active population is in managerial and professional occupations. The next-largest group (nearly a quarter) is in semi-routine and routine occupations. In December 2011, 1.9% of people in Sevenoaks District were claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance, well below the national average of 3.9%, but the levels in New Ash Green are more likely to approach the averages for the north Kent boroughs of Dartford and Gravesham, between 3 & 4%. It is worth noting that in 2008 13% of households in the parish received less than 60% of the median income after housing costs; parts of the parish record a score of 14.76 for the Index of Multiple Deprivation, particularly high for Sevenoaks District (with the exception of Swanley).

4.4 Older citizens

There are two blocks of retirement flats (77 in total) within New Ash Green, run as sheltered housing, Turners Oak and Hanover Place, with a warden at each; and a residential care home, Holywell Park, with about 50 places, in Hodsoll Street. As a church, we hold a regular monthly Eucharistic service in Turners Oak and Holywell Park, and a bi-monthly healing service in Turners Oak. The relationship is further extended as the church choir regularly uses Turners Oak for practice during the winter months. The Eucharistic and healing services, which are open to all, were led by our Incumbent and supported by the lay ministers and other parishioners. Residents from the retirement flats are also regularly transported to our church services by other parishioners on an organised basis. There is an increasing number of older citizens experiencing isolation, most with multiple medical conditions within their own homes. It is recognised that there may be opportunity within these contexts for intergenerational mission, especially given the current project on youth work being formed within the RNWK Group.

4.5 Education

Within the parish there is one school, New Ash Green Primary1, serving the 4-11-year age group. As a church, we have a friendly relationship and regular contact with the school with the incumbent and lay reader taking regular assemblies in the past few years. The school has used the church for the Y5 and Y6 annual Carol Service for

1 http://www.new-ash.kent.sch.uk/

http://www.new-ash.kent.sch.uk/


several years as well as visiting in smaller more informal groups during the year. There are church members who help with reading and are on the governing body. The school is rated by Ofsted as good and is both popular and well resourced. Secondary education is all located outside of the parish with the nearest school being Longfield Academy2, three miles to the north of the parish. Pupils from our area also attend schools at Meopham and Wrotham. Places are oversubscribed at the popular Saint George’s3, a Church of England secondary school located in nearby Gravesend, which is easily reached by bus and has an Ofsted rating of good. The area is well served also by grammar schools in Dartford, Gravesend and Wilmington depending on catchment area changes. Milestone Academy4, adjacent to the northern boundary of the parish and effectively still within New Ash Green, is for children with severe and complex learning difficulties right across the educational age-range from a wide catchment area in north Kent. We have recently welcomed small groups of students in to the church as part of their projects. Lastly but not least there are two pre-schools serving Ash and New Ash Green.

4.6 Social, sporting and recreational activities

New Ash Green has a large shopping centre (for the size of the village) with most local needs catered for, and includes a supermarket (Co-op), post office, newsagent, pharmacy, hardware/pet store, independent bakery, a very successful Oxfam shop, several restaurant and fast food outlets, and estate agents. New Ash Green has other facilities which serve the parish and adjacent areas including doctors' and dentists' surgeries, library, children's centre & clinic and veterinary surgery. It has its own public house, The Badger, as part of the centre, and there are four other public houses serving food in or on the border of the parish (one currently closed, hopefully temporarily whilst a new tenant is found). Most of the retail units are independents with few ‘chain’ outlets, but sadly some are currently empty. The centre is in need of a ‘make-over’ and has not adapted completely to modern shopping needs. Apart from a farm butcher, a garage, builders’ merchant and aquatic centre in Ash there are no other shops in the parish. There is a village hall in Ash and other halls in New Ash Green and Hodsoll Street, and a Youth & Community Centre in New Ash Green. A range of community groups for adults and children meet at these facilities.

2 http://longfieldacademy.org/ 3 https://www.saintgeorgescofe.kent.sch.uk/ 4 http://milestoneacademy.org.uk/

http://longfieldacademy.org/

https://www.saintgeorgescofe.kent.sch.uk/

http://milestoneacademy.org.uk/


New Ash Green Sports Pavilion and Grounds is owned by and freely available to the whole community; it hosts several local sports clubs, with teams for rugby and football but also petanque, tennis and outdoor fitness. It provides a local venue for outdoor gatherings such as the annual Village Day, at which the church provides the much needed and appreciated Tea Tent, and a music festival. Ash Cricket Club has regular use of the field opposite the church and the New Ash Green cricketers now meet at Hartley Manor. New Ash Green also offers facilities for individual sports, including badminton and squash, and a fitness gymnasium at the parish council’s Ash Green Sports Centre, next to Milestone Academy. Some private gyms and leisure facilities are in or near the parish.

4.7 Our Christian Community

At St Peter & St Paul, Ash, we are a worshipping community of over 100 people. With 95 on the electoral roll we have a regular attendance around 50 across two services, week in, week out. Our membership is drawn from across the parish apart from Hodsoll Street (a small village rather than a street) where people tend to worship at the closer Ridley or Stansted churches. It should be noted that at least a third of the present electoral roll were not included 10 years ago. Some ten percent of our members live outside the parish. The significant age groups within the congregation are the 55 to 65s and the over 65s. There is a small but growing number of younger families now attending some services, but generally these are not as yet on the electoral roll. In 2016, we had an average Sunday attendance of 48 adults and 3 children, with 114 Christmas and 74 Easter communicants. Christmas services are an important aspect of outreach to the community with 396 people attending the two Christingle services on Christmas Eve last year. In 2011, we carried out a total of 9 baptisms and thanksgivings, 6 members were confirmed in their faith, 7 couples were joined together in holy matrimony, 1 marriage was blessed and 7 funerals were conducted in our church. In 2016 there were 20 baptisms, 10 weddings and 8 funerals in Ash Church, with a total of 2,620 adults and 397 children attending, not counting those who attended more than 20 cremation only funerals. Additionally our services for the Scouts, Brigades and Primary School brought in a further 346 adults and 318 children, all of whom come from largely unchurched backgrounds. The present ageing congregation will eventually become unable to continue to support the work of the church. Our great challenge still to be met is to find ways of realising this harvest of families, and making our worship and Christian witness


relevant and accessible, both to young families and to the wider community. This is a challenge that the congregation understands is vital if our church is to continue as an integral part of the community so there is a real willingness to work with a priest to find new ways to welcome people into fellowship and meet the wide-ranging needs of young and old. Our ministry team, (shared with Ridley), consists of two Licensed Readers, one of whom is also authorised to conduct funerals and there are two Licensed Lay Ministers in training (candidates for licensing in May 2018). Our previous incumbent was appointed as a part-time (0.6 full-time equivalent across the two parishes) Priest-in-Charge which meant that full engagement with all the challenges of the parish has been difficult to achieve. Study Groups are currently run through Lent, led variously by our Readers and other lay members. This year the Diocesan Lent Course, was used across the whole group, with nine people at the Ash venue. There is a monthly meeting to pray for the parish and the church. Our church for youngsters running under the heading of Ash Junior Church, meets monthly as an alternative to the concurrent service in the church, with two leaders and other help from church members and works especially with the pre-school age group. There is also a very well attended Scout Troup with a large waiting list which meets in New Ash Green Youth Centre and attends the church for St George’s Day and other

special services especially Remembrance Day. The Child Protection officer is appointed annually at the APCM and the Diocesan policies are adopted annually. On the music front we are gifted with a

talented choir (pictured here on their annual visit to Trafalgar Square), much praised by visiting clergy and ably led by two joint choirmasters. We currently have a vacancy for a permanent organist, but we are grateful for those who cover as many services as they can. The choir however is able, and has been leading the congregation effectively without accompaniment. Our team of hardworking bell ringers ring and care for our peal of six bells


which were recently refurbished, re-tuned and re-hung in a newly repaired tower. Other than for services the church is used during the week for choir rehearsals (Fridays) and bell-ringing practice (Tuesdays & Saturdays) and occasional concerts (by our choir and others) and performances. We are confident that the new toilet and kitchen facilities will attract other community uses.

Administratively we have a baptisms administrator; weddings administrator; newsletter editor; pew sheet editor; webmaster; and, of course, a very hardworking churchwarden and a diligent and inspiring treasurer. The church is also blessed with a small social group and the flower group, providing colour and refreshments at a range of events.

At a wider deanery and diocesan level, two lay representatives are appointed to Deanery Synod and two members (one lay, one clergy) serve on Diocesan Synod. The PCC consists of the licensed clergy, two churchwardens and eight lay people: two Deanery Synod members (including the Diocesan Synod member), and six lay members, but at the time of writing there are vacancies for a churchwarden and one each of Deanery and lay members. The ministry team including the licenced lay ministers in training meet separately with the incumbent to plan future activities. We produce a bimonthly news sheet of 8-14 A4 pages, which is mailed electronically to 90 recipients and a further 60 copies are printed (the latest issue can be viewed at www.ash-church.org.uk/news) for distribution to the non-wired, and for picking up by visitors. Our weekly Sunday pew sheet is also produced in-house and 60 copies printed for a ‘normal’ week, though more are produced for special services, and those with baptisms. Our Christmas programme of services and a message of good tidings is produced jointly with Ridley and distributed to more than 2,500 households in Ridley, Ash and New Ash Green. None of these documents is edited by the incumbent, but there has been, of course, copy from the Rector in each news sheet. The only other church within the parish is the Revelation Church at Ash Chapel, which is a member of the Evangelical Alliance, but other local churches draw members from within the parish, including St Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in Hartley and Eastgate Church, once based in New Ash Green as a community church but which now meets for Sunday worship at their new conference centre site in Springhead Park, Northfleet.

http://www.ash-church.org.uk/news


4.8 Finances

Following the sale of a small area of land some years ago, we have been able to fund the project for the provision of the kitchen and toilets, and will have a small amount of capital left over. Our annual turnover is in the region of £60,000. In recent years, we have achieved small annual surpluses through a stewardship campaign and careful review of expenditure. Our annual offer to the diocese has been in line with diocesan expectations for a part-time post, supplemented by additional generosity payments as circumstances have allowed.

Outward giving, funded by collections at services, special events and individual sponsorship projects, has been directed towards a range of causes which varies from year to year; but regular beneficiaries are the Children’s Society, local hospices and the diocese’s Poverty and Hope Appeal. The total raised in 2016 was a little over £2,200.

The 2016 statement of accounts is attached.

4.9 Our relationship with Ridley

The parish has, for the past century or so, shared the time and cost of its Rector with our ‘sister’ parish of Ridley (who have produced their own Parish Profile). This arrangement serves both parishes well. Both churches have at least one service every Sunday morning, with the minister (ordained or lay) travelling the short distance back and forth as necessary. Current LLM candidates have also been welcomed and encouraged to participate in the different context and liturgy at Ridley, providing a greater depth of training and experience. There is a long-standing agreement between the two PCCs on the distribution of the costs involved with Ash taking the lion’s share of the Rector’s time and effort and bearing the lion’s share of the costs. It is an amicable and mutually beneficial working arrangement that works well, but it can be and has been adjusted as and when circumstances have changed.

4.10 Vital statistics

Ash Population: 6,560

Ridley Population: 80

Diocese: Rochester

Deanery: Cobham

County: Kent

Registration District: Sevenoaks

Patron: Mr Jeremy Scott, who attends services and takes an interest in both parishes. The living is currently suspended.

Website: www.ash-church.org.uk

http://www.ash-church.org.uk/


Ash

Ridley

1 mile

1 mile


5 St Peter, Ridley

5.1 Our parish

The Parish of Ridley lies within the deanery of Cobham, part of the Diocese of

Rochester, secluded in the chalk hills and steep valleys of the area. It was linked with

the parish of Ash in the early 1900's to form the joint benefice of Ash and Ridley. The

principal constituents of the parish are the dwellings of the ancient village of Ridley

itself, and the later ones of New Street about one mile to the East, following moves

from Ridley on account of polluted wells at the time of the Black Death in the 14th

century. In all there are now some 30 dwellings in the parish with a population of

about 80. Several new houses are under construction and the number of

parishioners is on a rising trend having been steady at about 70 over the last century.

There are now about 80 residents with two younger families having come into the

parish.

The parish dates back to Saxon times, and probably to about 600 AD. A Saxon church

was originally built and was later recorded in the Textus Roffensis, containing the

ancient records of Rochester Diocese. There is an entry for Ridley and the church in

the Domesday book. The existing church building is Norman in origin, largely

constructed in the 12th/13th centuries. with limited evidence of the Saxon structure.

The parish and its boundaries are detailed on the map. The church is sited about a

mile south east of St Peter and St Paul, across the Hartley Bottom valley. The

distance between the two churches by road is approximately two miles.

Land use is almost entirely agricultural though a small industrial site has recently

been introduced, though parishioners have not been involved.

Ridley does have a reputation for being both an independent and active community,

through both the church and The Ridley Society. The latter was formed for

parishioners in the nineties to provide a recognised body with a formal input into

planning and development of the area. It also has an active social agenda, and has

close links and support for the church.

5.2 Services and Worship.

The format for regular services was changed to assist with the current lack of clergy

in the area and to enable pulpit swaps with the Group Chapter.


5.2.1 Service Schedule

The regular services at Ridley are currently as follows:

3rd Sunday of each month, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day

09.00 Holy Communion utilising Common Worship (Hymns are sung to organ

accompaniment)

Every other Sunday

09.00 Morning Prayer (Hymns are sung to organ accompaniment)

4th Sunday of each month from 1st January 2018

18.30 Evening prayer based on the Book of Common prayer. Hymns are sung

with organ accompaniment. (previously it has been on the 2nd Sunday)

5.2.2 Others

A traditional advent Carol Service is held early to mid-December, and the church is

filled to capacity in the order of 100 worshippers. The service is traditionally

supported by the Ash church choir. There is a traditional Harvest festival followed by

a lunch organised by The Ridley Society. Planned NW Kent Group services are also

conducted in St Peter’s.

The PCC has been flexible in adapting to different service schedules and formats, and

has always been ready to consider changes whilst maintaining the regularity of

morning and evening services. This has also included a warm welcome to the LLM

candidates to experience a different context and we have been very willing

participants in training assignments and services.

5.2.3 Attendance

Typical Sunday morning attendance varies between 8 and 16 in number. Over the

last year the monthly evensong has grown in popularity with attendance typically

being about 12. The church maintains regular attendees of about 30, with an

electoral roll number of 21.

5.2.4 General

Services tend to be simple and fairly traditional, which reflects the general wishes of

the parishioners. The reduction in monthly communion services has had a positive

impact on attendance with quite a number of the less regular attendees not having

been confirmed in the church. Reflecting the fact that the community, village or

congregation, knows its participants well, the experiment of sharing the Peace by

shaking hands was dropped. The church ensures that any stranger receives a warm

welcome at all times. We have a longstanding reputation for our friendliness.

At each service either the old testament or epistle reading is usually by a member of

the congregation. The Rector/Priest in Charge is usually assisted by a lay minister,

and the church wardens will assist with the communion cup when no lay reader is

present. The lay ministers past and present have been extremely loyal to and


supportive of Ridley. They will frequently take a Service of The Word when no

ordained clergy has been present, which has become increasingly valuable with the

recent limitations of clergy in the Group.

Ridley has two volunteer organists.

5.3 Church Buildings

The sole building is the Church of St Peter, located within the village of Ridley, at the

top of Ridley Hill, adjacent to Ridley Court farm. The churchyard extends to about

half an acre, and is largely bounded by a flint wall. The graveyard has been declared

full over the past 70 years, but has not been officially closed. A faculty has just been

granted to enable ashes to be buried around the boundary wall, and a small

headstone may be erected under approved and specific churchyard regulations.

Little of the original construction remains other than central area flint walls and a

Norman window in the north wall. The sanctuary area was extended to the east by

the Rev. Phelps in the late 1800's. The church is rectangular in shape (see plan on

page 21). There are two arched entrance porches abutting the North and South

walls, the Southern one being sealed off for use as a small vestry. The building is

mainly of flint construction, with some areas rendered externally. At its western end,

the tiled roof is surmounted by a small wooden tower with a single bell.

The internal layout is simple with a high arch separating the nave from a raised

chancel and the altar. Some 45 people can be accommodated in the wooden pews.

There are also some 40 single stacking

chairs available. A Victorian pipe organ is

located in the north-west corner of the

Nave. A large stone font is in front of the

vestry door. A large safe is built into the

vestry wall. The building is in very good

condition for its age, as reported in the

12th Quinquennial inspection carried out in

November 2016. Following the previous

survey, a large amount of repair work was

carried out on the stonework, stained glass windows and the churchyard wall at a

cost of about £55,000. Minor repairs and repainting of the interior identified at the

12th inspection is not urgent, and is expected to cost in the order of £4,000 to £5,000.

Major repairs to the fabric and structure of the church over the last 40 years have

been the replacement of the wooden bell tower, underpinning the foundations of

the entry porch, and installing raised wooden flooring under the pew areas. The

lighting has been modernised and the church rewired. An infra-red heating system

has replaced radiant gas fires.


The organ is well maintained and tuned regularly. There is an electricity supply to the

church, but no running water, mains gas or toilet facilities. (see section 5.9.2 for

details on progress to remedy this situation and church plan attached)

5.4 Teaching

There has not been a school within the parish for the last 50 years. There is no

Sunday school, or regular study group. Individuals do join Ash groups.

5.5 Fellowship

The services are the principal focal points of contact amongst parishioners. The

parish does have the Ridley Society to which all parishioners may join. It maintains a

close association with the church, and manages the harvest lunch and post advent

services celebrations. The incumbent is an honorary member of the Society.

The annual traditional harvest thanksgiving service is followed by a harvest lunch at

the Hodsoll street village hall, when the harvest gifts are auctioned off for church and

charity funds. For many years Ridley participated with a stall "Ridley Stores" at the

Ash Church fete until it ceased. This year St Peter's joined with Ash in sharing a stall

at the New Ash Green Village Day. The annual St Peter's Church Xmas card has

become extremely popular over the last 12 years, and has become a collector's item

worldwide. Over the last few years a small "St Peter's farm shop" has been

established at the church door where parishioners' surplus produce, e.g. firewood,

potatoes and other vegetables, fruit, marmalade, etc is made available, donations

going to church funds.

An extremely successful harp concert

for the community in early 2017 raised

nearly £2,000 for church funds. A

similar event with a wind ensemble is

planned for May 2018.

In recent years St Peter's has

contributed some £800 per annum to

both local and Christian charities

5.6 Administration

The PCC meets a scheduled four times a year with the AGM held in April. The

chairmanship lies with the Rector/Priest in Charge. The composition of the PCC

includes the two churchwardens, secretary, treasurer and nine lay members,

including child and adult parish safeguarding representatives. There are currently no

vacancies. Meetings are generally held in members’ houses in the evening, or in

emergency, post the Sunday morning service. St Peter's has two representatives on

the newly formed Rural North West Kent group of churches, who report back on

group developments to the PCC for review and endorsement as necessary.


There are no other formal regular committees, and the PCC will appoint and disband

special ad-hoc committees for special projects as necessary.

The church has no employees. St Peter's is well decorated with flowers each Sunday.

Cleaning is on an ad-hoc basis, as is general maintenance of the building and

churchyard by voluntary effort.

5.7 Finances

Although St Peter's is a very small country parish, it remains financially independent

and the examined accounts for 2016 are included.

Giving is both by collection and covenant. The church is also supported by various

generous ad hoc donations. Over the first ten years of this century, the financial

position improved steadily such that at the end of 2011 available funds totalled

about £49,000. Over the next few years a full programme of Quinquennial directed

repairs on the church building, windows, and boundary walls were executed at a

total cost of some £55,000, leaving the church in a very good condition for its age.

Over the last two years the depleted funds have again been rebuilt such that

available funds at the 31 May 2017 stood at £25,585.

St Peter's has steadily improved its voluntary contributions to the Diocese over and

above recommended levels during the past 3 years as part of its PCC policy to meet

the realistic costs of clergy.

5.8 St Peter's Ministry

Clergy responsibilities are described in the covering section outlining post

requirements for appointees.

For over 100 years there has been an incumbent covering both Ash and Ridley when

our Rector, Barclay Hennell moved to Ash rectory in the early 1900's. About 1960 the

diocese considered closing Ridley church, but this was strongly resisted and St Peter's

has continued steadily ever since, now maintaining a weekly Sunday morning service

at 9.00am and a monthly evensong, at 6.30pm. The regular weekly communion

service has been reduced to once per month, being replaced on other Sundays by a

Morning Prayer service based on the Book of Common Prayer. In recent years there

has generally been a lay minister to assist with the major services.

The patronage measure remains in suspension, and the previous Priest-in-Charge

with a 0.6 full time allocation to cover both charges had insufficient time to maintain

and develop the ministry in either parish. As a small traditional country parish, the

availability and recognition of a nominated priest for St Peter's is seen as essential for

the effective continuation of the church. It is however more important than ever that

the church regain its position at the centre of village life, including the much-needed

pastoral provision, with a Priest who is able to be visible to all.


The preceding comments in no way reflect the standing and commitment of the

previous Priest-in-Charge, who has willingly given of her own time to progress the

ministry. She is well respected in the parish. She has been very strongly supported by

our lay readers. Licensed Lay Ministers in training frequently attend and help St

Peter's. St Peter's has been most fortunate in the support and affection of the clergy

and the lay ministers towards our church.

5.9 Major church development projects

5.9.1 Garden of Remembrance/Ashes interment.

St Peter's churchyard has been declared full since about 1950, though it is not

formally closed. Ad hoc burial of ashes has occurred over the last thirty years. After

many years deliberation with the diocese over the provision of a Garden of

Remembrance, the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) approved proposals for the

formal interment of ashes in plots around the boundary walls, with the provision to

erect a small tombstone under new churchyard regulations. The faculty for this

facility has recently been approved. This has attracted considerable interest from

parishioners.

5.9.2 Provision of a water supply, toilet and basic kitchen facilities.

In line with developments in other churches, the PCC have recognised that if we are

to survive as a going concern in the future, we must provide improved amenities. We

have commissioned an architect to develop plans for water supply, a disabled access

toilet and a small sink at the back of the church. The Diocesan Advisory Committee

visited the church to examine alternatives, following which the architect prepared an


outline drawing of the changes involved which have subsequently been approved by

the DAC. Regrettably the possibility of an external addition to the listed building to

provide space for the toilet was not deemed possible under the regulations, so it will

entail a cubicle at the back of the church. At present, the DAC administration is

asking the advice of the statutory consultees, Historic England, the Church Buildings

Council and SPAB.

5.9.3 Churchyard and burials

Consideration is being given to re-using the churchyard for burials in view of the lack

of space in local graveyards.

5.10 Ecumenical

Ridley has been a member of the local covenant of churches and of course is part of

the North West Kent group of churches. It is represented on the Deanery Synod.

5.11 Publicity

A bi-monthly church newsletter is shared with Ash. Forthcoming events are also

included in the joint weekly service sheet with Ash. Service and events information is

also advised by weekly e-mail. Ridley no longer maintains its own website.

5.12 Major features of Parish Life.

Activities relating to the church have already been described. Being a rural and

agricultural parish, the seasons and the land are the main driving forces of activity.

The parish continues to have an increasing number of new residents employed

outside the boundaries. Several industrial units have recently been introduced on

Bunker's Hill Road but do not

involve parishioners. There tends

to be close social contact

between most residents of the

parish e.g. The Ridley Society,

though some prefer to lead a

non-participative local life. There

are close connections with the

Parish Council representatives.

There is constant pressure to fill

and develop the area, which is

designated Green Belt land, and though controlled there are several new houses

both complete and building. Positive aspects of this development are the increase in

parish numbers and younger families. We do not see this influx materially changing

the nature of life in the parish in the immediate future.


5.13 Concluding reflection

St Peter’s future has been a matter of much debate over many decades, but we strongly feel that this is a church and community that meets the needs of the 21st century in a surprising way. We sit in an isolated place but never cease to be amazed at the number of people who find their way into our ancient walls, sometimes as a chance find on a walk but often sought out as a place of rest, solace, prayer and sanctuary. Amongst the business of modern life there is an increasing demand to seek out such places, a place of intimacy, for some with God and for others not knowing what they are seeking till they get there. A recent reflective afternoon with one of the trainee LLMs uncovered much of how we and others feel about God in this place,

why 8 to 12 people gather even on cold, dark, damp days in a small medieval church. “The God proclaimed in this church is multifaceted including that of a tenacious God. The human face of the church is the fellowship within it, the congregation, and reflectively they are the living stones of Peter. They draw from the peace and history of this ancient place, built on a human scale. The continuity of more than a millennium of prayer and worship gives the cold stone a warmth and protective feel.” Finding ways to share with others this refuge, in a way that is sympathetic to the constraints of the building and the desire to retain its intimacy, remains one of our biggest challenges for the future.

6 The wider parish and Christian community

6.1 Cobham Deanery

Cobham Deanery is the smallest in the Diocese (9 Parishes – Ash, Cobham, Fawkham and Hartley, Longfield, Luddesdowne with Dode, Istead Rise, Meopham and Nurstead, Ridley and Southfleet). The Clergy Chapter and Deanery Synod therefore have a close-knit feel with an opportunity to get to know colleagues well and offer support and encouragement. There are 6 Chapter meetings a year including a 24-hour Away Day. Synod meets 3 times a year, with 25 members. The Deanery Mission and Ministry Plan focuses on ‘growth’ – ‘Growing Together, Numerically, Spiritually and Growing a Younger Christian presence’. Getting a younger age group to be part of their local church and Deanery can be more challenging in these rural settings but we are blessed with many schools in the Deanery and the plans for a youth worker in the RNWK Group are very exciting. For the past two years the Deanery has


collaborated in running a 24/7 prayer room responding to the Archbishops’ initiative on prayer and this has been well supported by all congregations.

6.2 Rochester Archdeaconry and Diocese

Our Archdeaconry and Diocese offer regular training opportunities for clergy and lay ministers, with emphasis on providing spiritual support for those who minister in our churches. The Diocese recently launched its five-year vision ‘Called Together’5 which was developed from shared conversations that took place in parishes, chaplaincies, schools, and a variety of local settings. Three key priorities have been developed to help focus the work of the local church. These are: Growing disciples, Enriching our communities, Resourcing mission and ministry. The vision includes commitments to working in the many areas of change and new housing across the region, as well as a new £500,000 fund to support work with Children and Young People.

6.3 Friends of Ash Church

Set up as a vehicle to fund-raise for the fabric of the church, the Friends group hold concerts and other events regularly through the year in the centre of New Ash Green as well as in the church. A member of the PCC acts as liaison and the chair of FoAC is very supportive.

6.4 The Ridley Society

With membership open only to residents of Ridley, this society was set up primarily to conserve the traditional aspects of the village, however they welcome the clergy and church members to social events and have given generously to fabric repairs. The annual Harvest Lunch is a joint event with the church and well attended.

6.5 Charities and Other Agencies

The incumbent and churchwardens of Ash are, ex-officio, trustees of The James Lance Trust, which owns and manages two one-bedroom almshouses in the centre of New Ash Green which pre-date by many years the founding of New Ash Green. As Rector of Ridley, the incumbent is one of the trustees of Dr Plume’s Charity, a benevolent fund supporting ‘necessitous’ clergy in Rochester diocese, with meetings held twice a year in nearby Meopham to review grant applications. The Ash PCC is represented on Ash Parish Council’s Burial Ground Management Committee.

5 http://www.rochester.anglican.org/strategy/called-together/

http://www.rochester.anglican.org/strategy/called-together/


Ash Village Hall is owned freehold by the Rector and Churchwardens but leased (for 35 years until 2029) to a charitable trust, which itself appoints three trustees. A management committee of users, with a representative nominated by the PCC and the incumbent, is responsible for day-to-day maintenance and operation.

the parishes of st peter and st paul, ash and st peter, ridley€¦ · on being good neighbours....

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