The Church of the Ascension is known locally as the 'Tin Church' because of its corrugated-iron shell. In the Parish Magazine of 1880, the Vicar wrote: 'The new Church of the Ascension, Bedmond, to cater for the spiritual lives of the people in that part of the ancient parish of Abbots Langley, has just been built at a cost of £80'. It had been given by Mrs Solly of Serge Hill, 'so that the spiritual lives of those residing in Bedmond shall go forward with increased vigour'. Completed in 1880, it has a simple wooden interior with some fine painted decoration. Around 60 people can be comfortably seated on wooden chairs which were replaced in the late 1980s. By the mid 1990s it was obvious that it would make life much easier if extra facilities were added, so a corner of the church was turned into a kitchen area and an outside store room converted to a toilet.
In the spring of 2005 major work began on repairing and repainting the outside of the church and during this work the steeple was found to be in a bad state of repair. The Parochial Church Council of Abbots Langley, which oversees the maintenance of the church, agreed that J.F. Day (Builders) should construct a new steeple and cover it with copper. This was duly done and fitted in July 2005 - at a cost considerably more than the original cost of the building! The bell has been rehung within the steeple and can be heard occasionally to welcome people to worship.
During 2011 much of the roof has been replaced in order to maintain the building for the public worship of the residents of Bedmond village.
A service is held on two Sundays each month as well as at the major festivals of Christmas and Easter, and also on Ascension Day, when the whole parish gathers to celebrate with a service of Holy Communion. More recently a Coffee Morning (on the first Wednesday of each month) has been added to the activities to encourage local people into the building. The church is well supported by village residents; and Flower Festivals, Harvest Suppers and Church Fetes are all held within the church and grounds.
To see it on the map, click here.
Choose products with this Mark
www.fairtrade.org.uk
Monday 14th May - St Matthias
9.30 am Holy Communion
11.00 am Handbell ringing practice
2.15 pm Tiny Tots
2.40 pm Funeral of Daphne Sutherland at the Crematorium
7.30 pm Bell ringing practice
8.00 pm Housegroup at 38 Oak Green
8.00 pm Hall Committee meeting at 20 Parnell Close
Tuesday 15th May
10.15 am-12.15 pm Tuesday Coffee in St Lawrence
6.45 pm Choir practice
7.45 pm Dynamite Youth Group meets in the church hall
8.00 pm Housegroup at 18 St Lawrence Close
Wednesday 16th May
10.15 am Holy Communion
5.00 pm Blessing of Ginders' new Chapel of Rest
8.00 pm Parochial Church Council meets in the Vicarage
8.00 pm Mothers' Union meets at Bedmond Church
Thursday 17th May - Ascension Day
8.15-8.45 am Prayers for the Parish and Local Community
8.00 pm Parish Communion at Bedmond. Preacher: The Revd Angela Tilby, Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
8.00 pm Parents' housegroup
Friday 18th May
9.30 am Morning Prayer with Holy Communion
10.00-12.00 noon Heart for Abbots Langley Coffee in the Henderson Hall
6.15 pm Youth Choir practice
Saturday 19th May
12.00 noon Wedding of Christopher Strand and Joanne Eldridge
Sunday 20th May - The Seventh Sunday of Easter
8.00 am Holy Communion
9.30 am Parish Communion with Seekers & Creche
11.00 pm Family Service at Bedmond
12.30 pm Sunday Lunch Club
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Donate to the Parish