Church Notices
Please Note:
Although our church is open again for visitors, anyone entering for whatever reason must wear a face mask until further notice.
We are delighted that Grant Fensome’s formal Collation as Vicar, Basildon with Aldworth and Ashampstead within Bradfield Deanery, will take place on Tuesday 2nd February at 7.00pm. Bishop Olivia will license him online via Zoom. His induction by the Associate Archdeacon will take place at a later stage, in church and at a Service, when it is possible and safe to do so. And, of course, we hope we will be able to have a big informal celebration and welcome for him, his wife Naomi and daughter Bethany in the summer - again when it is possible and safe to do so.
Grant does hope that you will be able to join him; it will be wonderful to welcome him formally to the Benefice and rejoice in the start of his incumbency with us in the Benefice. The Reading will be Luke 2.22-40. It would be very helpful if you could all mute your microphones when you join the Service.
The Zoom link is below and also on p: Church>Zoom Services where there is also a template order of service so you can follow what is happening
The Rt Revd Olivia Graham is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grant Fensome Collation
Time: 2nd Feb 2021 at 7.00pm
Join Zoom Meeting at
https://zoom.us/j/99764055027?pwd=UkNSTmM2NDF0QkVkTGpVTlU5ZHBMZz09
Meeting ID: 997 6405 5027
Passcode: 458758
NEW VICAR FOR OUR BENEFICE!
We are delighted to announce that the Revd. Grant Fensome is joining us as our new Vicar early in 2021. He will be licensed by the Bishop of Reading on Tuesday 2nd February. We will circulate more information about his licensing in due course.
Grant is currently Curate in the Parish of Broxbourne with Wormley in Hertfordshire and is very excited at the prospect of his ministry with us. He is married to Naomi and has a young daughter Bethany who will be going to Sparklers Preschool in Basildon. They plan to move into the Vicarage during January.
Please join us in giving them a big welcome!
Ministry Team and PCCs of Basildon, Aldworth and Ashampstead
15th November 2020
A message from our new Vicar:
Hello everybody, I wished to send a quick message to you all on this exciting day. My family and I can’t wait to come and join you in the New Year. We are looking forward to getting to know you all, but in the meantime here is a little flavour of Fensome life.
I was ordained in 2017, following my training at Trinity College, Bristol. Before my journey into ordained ministry, I was a Transport and Sales Manager in the haulage industry. For the past three and a half years I have thoroughly enjoyed serving my curacy in Broxbourne and Wormley, Hertfordshire.
I am married to Naomi, who was a youth and children’s minister before we had our daughter. We have an enthusiastic three year old called Bethany who is keen to befriend you all.
While I enjoy watching (and playing if I can) most sports, Naomi is more inclined to spend her spare time doing something creative. Together, we love nothing more than spending time with family and friends - no doubt you will get to meet some of them soon too. We also spend time worshipping and creating music together as a family, sometimes tuneful, often not!
We are looking forward to sharing some great adventures with you, as the Lord leads us. We will be praying for you all over the next few weeks, and eagerly await meeting you in due course.
With love and blessings,
Grant, Naomi and Bethany
ASHAMPSTEAD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
Annual Church Meeting
will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday 6th August 20 at 7.00pm
Annual General Meeting of Parishioners
Opening Prayer & Introduction
Election of Churchwardens who will then take the Chair for the APCM
Annual Parochial Church Meeting:
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Apologies
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Confirmation of Minutes of Last Year’s Meeting held on 11th April 2019
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Matters Arising from the Minutes
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Appointments to the PCC (including Chair, Deanery Synod Rep, Hon
Treasurer, Hon Secretary and Safeguarding Officer) -
Annual Benefice Report for 2019
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Annual Accounts for 2019
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Appointment of the Independent Examiner of the finances
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Churchwardens’ Report for 2019
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Report on the Electoral Roll
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Deanery Synod Report
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Appointment of Sides-men and women
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Any Other Business
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Closing Prayers
The PCC will meet immediately following this meeting. During this first meeting of the next church year, the PCC should agree between them who will act as chair during the continuing interregnum.
Please Note: Due to social distancing, any parishioner who is not on the PCC, but wishes to attend please contact Jenny Fisken at
Changes to Church Procedure due to Covid 19
Over the last few weeks our parish church has had to make changes in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. So we want to let you know what steps we have taken to date to meet the situation.
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We have stopped holding services in the church or outside in line with Government restrictions. The church is sadly now locked.
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The three parish churches of Basildon, Aldworth and Ashampstead have drawn up a continuity plan, together with our Area Dean, to ensure the continued mission and ministry of all three churches.
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Should you want to speak to a member of the Ministry Team for any reason, do ring either Revd Katy Weston (07765 255569), Jonathan or Rosemary Sandbach (01491 672494) or Mike Penny (01491 671357). They are always there to help.
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Unfortunately because of the virus restrictions, we have had to postpone the interviews for a new vicar; however the vicarage in Upper Basildon is being redecorated so that it is ready and waiting!
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Because all meetings and gatherings are prohibited, we shall have to put off until some future date, the Annual Parish Church Meeting we had scheduled for 28th April.
Caroline Butler and Sally Hardaker (Churchwardens)
Dear Friends
It is with great sadness that I have realised we are starting Holy Week today (Palm Sunday) and that we won’t be able to meet either for our Reflections during Holy Week or services during the Paschal Triduum this year. It is such an important event in the Church calendar. We had services planned right round the Benefice and I was particularly looking forward to celebrating Holy Communion on Easter Sunday with you all. I had even bought 2 kilos of mini foil-wrapped eggs to celebrate Easter with you (they are still in sealed bags untouched by human hands!)
However what I thought might help us during the coming week is a little booklet which one of my fellow curates-in-training has produced. I think it is a way for us to be together in prayer, if not in actual physical presence. Click on Church then Easter where you can scroll through the days of Holy Week.
The picture to the right is of a mini-garden created by Monty and India Barton especially for Easter and sits by our church door.
With love and prayers to you all, Katy
Reverend Katy Weston
Curate: Benefice of Basildon, Aldworth & Ashampstead
07765 255569
