Pilgrims & Walkers
Our churches each offer something unique and personal and are close to the ancient and popular Ridgeway path. Pilgrims & walkers, families & friends - we welcome thousands of visitors throughout the year.
All our churches are open for prayer, mediation and reflection everyday in daylight hours.
St Marys, Aldworth
Located just off the Ridgeway, our church is open with hundreds of visitors each year.
The church holds its own fund-raising events: a variety of concerts and, every week, during the summer months, well attended afternoon teas attract visitors from far and wide. Other major visitor attractions include the well maintained and famous Aldworth Giant Effigies of the De La Beche family in the church itself.
St Clement’s Ashampstead
Tranquil and located just south of Aldworth & west of Basildon. Our church contains some spectacular medieval wall paintings that attract visitors from far and wide.
The Church was built as a retreat for the Benedictine Abbey of Lyre in France during the 12th Century. At that time the Abby’s illustrators & Scriptorium were famous. Bearing witness to the abbey’s vitality and prestige by the quality of the illuminated manuscripts they produced. These are now conserved in libraries throughout Europe.
St Clement’s & it’s wall paintings date from a time when the monks also undertook rebuilding at the abbey, sadly in 1188 this was destroyed in a fire.
St Clement’s, at Ashampstead was built for the Benedictine Abbey of Lyre, France in the 12th century.
During the 12th Century the Abby’s Scriptorium was very active, bearing witness to the abbey’s vitality and prestige by the quality of the illuminated manuscripts it produced and which are now conserved in libraries throughout Europe.
In the mid-12th century the monks also undertook rebuilding at the abbey, but in 1188 it was destroyed in a fire, St Clement’s & it’s wall paintings date from this time.
St Clement’s, has been a destination for pilgrimage & prayer at Ashampstead since it was built by the Benedictine Abbey of Lyre, France in the 12th century.
Within the parish there are 47 paths offering walks and rides through differing terrains such as ancient woods and coppices, across fields and along ancient drove roads.
St Stephens, Basildon
Footpaths, Bridleways and Byways,
UP-COMING EVENTS IN THE BENEFICE
Join us for a wonderful service of carols and readings as we re-tell (and sing) the Christmas story. Everybody welcome for this beautiful service!
A wonderful carol service, with all the ‘Gloooo-riaa’ you could want! Come and join us for a jolly good sing-song as we worship God at this wonderful time of year!
A beautiful service full of favourite carols and the beautiful words of the traditional readings. With candles, good voices and festive cheer its a service not to be missed.
The Christmas Story for all the Family. Everybody is encouraged to come dressed as a Nativity character (or anything else!). There will be cracking carols, lots of celebration and lots to eat and drink! Come and join us as we celebrate Christmas in style.
In our new style crib service we will gather together and re-tell the greatest story every told! We will sing some wonderful carols and encourage full family participation. Come dressed as a bible character. Yes tea-towels are mandatory! - or come as any of your favourite superhero’s - perhaps there will be a Batman instead of a shepherd this year? Who knows? Bring your friends and family and neighbours for what promises to be a fantastic way to enter into Christmas!
All are welcome to join us for our Midnight Communion at St Mary’s, Aldworth. We will start Christmas Day thanking the Lord, and contemplating the enormity of the miracle of Christmas.
We celebrate Christmas together at 11am for a whole family communion service with a collection of wonderful hymns and readings followed by a fabulous Christmas message for all ages.
We celebrate Christmas together at 9.30am with communion for the whole family. This is a communion service with a collection of wonderful hymns and readings followed by a fabulous Christmas message for all ages. A joyful way to worship together on Christmas Day!
A short family service of songs and readings with a fun Christmas message designed for the whole family to come to church and worship. ‘Come and adore him’ at 10am Christmas Day - St. Stephen’s Church Upper Basildon.
On the fifth Sunday of the month we join as one big family. This week we gather at 10am for a communion service using the words of the wonderful Book of Common Prayer at St. Clement’s. The service will include beautiful hymns, a short sermon, and plenty of time to pray, reflect and encounter God in this wonderful place. What a brilliant way to begin a Sunday. Everybody is welcome.