St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) at Ashwater is part of the Ruby Country Benefice, with Beaworthy, Black Torrington, Clawton, Halwill, Highampton and Tetcott.

A warm welcome to all vistors to our site, whether you live in the Parish of Ashwater or in our neighbouring Parishes of Beaworthy, Halwill, Tetcott with Luffincott, Clawton, Black Torrington, Highampton, or wherever you might be. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our Rector

Revd Dr Paul Fitzpatrick

The Rev’d Dr Paul Fitzpatrick is the Rector of the Ruby Country Benefice (consisting of the parishes of Ashwater, Black Torrington, Beaworthy, Clawton, Halwill, Highampton and Tetcott).

Induction by the Bishop of Crediton took place on the 25th May 2023.

The next services at Ashwater St Peter ad Vincula and other Benefice Churches

Sunday 18th August 2024

09.30 am Holy Communion - Ashwater Church

11.00 am Holy Communion - Halwill Church

11.00 am - Morning Prayer - Black Torrington Church

3.30 pm - Deanery Summer Event Songs of Praise "Pimms and Hymns" at Holsworthy Church

Wednesday 21st August 2024

10.00 am Morning Prayer - Black Torrington Church

Sunday 25th August 2024

11.00 am Holy Communion - Beaworthy Church

11.00 am United Service - Clawton Church

6.30 pm Bible Study/Service - Highampton Village Hall

Sunday 1st September 2024

09.30 Morning Service - Ashwater Church

Ashwater services routinely take place on the 1st and 3rd Sundays each month at 09.30 a.m.

O

Ashwater church is open for private prayer.

Please see below.

A Snapshot in Time 2024

On Saturday 7th September 2024 there will be an exhibition at the Church of photos, with Ashwater Church as their subject, taken by members of the public. This will help create a lasting record of the Church today and allow us to make a small contribution to the record of the centuries-long relationship between the people of Ashwater Parish and its Church. The Church has been in the village from the 13th Century (possibly earlier) and it is to be hoped that it will be there still in another 800 years.

Other activities are planned at the Church during the event which is being held to welcome visitors to our wonderful and ancient Church and to support the work of the local Church volunteers to raise funds for essential repairs to the fabric of the building.

How can I get involved?

Contributions are sought to the exhibition from all and anyone.

Take as many photos as you like
Choose the two you think are the best/most interesting/most artistic/thought provoking and print them off
Photos can be Black & White or Colour
Photo sizes can be 6" x 4" or 8" x 10"

Either
- Pop them into an envelope marked with your name, address and contact number
- Place your envelope with their photos in the "Snapshot in TIme" collection box which will be located just inside the Church
Or
- send the photos to us via email to administrator@ashwaterparishchurch.com in jpeg format preferably.
The deadline for contributions to the exhibition is Friday 30th August 2024 to allow time for the photos to be sorted and arranged and mounted in time for the exhibition day.

Help the taxman help us run and maintain Ashwater Church

Winter storms and running repairs mean there is a constant and growing list of work which costs significant sums to keep the fabric of the Church in acceptable repair. In addition any work to support the local community as part of the wider mission of the Church needs resources to be able to operate.

Ashwater Parish is registered with the Parish Giving Scheme which allows you to give to this Parish securely and safely online. The Scheme automatically arranges for 25% Gift Aid (where eligible) to be paid to the Church following your donation.

Please follow the link below to the Parish Giving website where its easy to use forms allow you to set up and process your gifts by clicking 'Regular Giving' to set up a monthly, quarterly, or annual Direct Debit or ‘One-Off Gift’ to make a single gift using your Debit, Credit Card or Apple/Google Pay wallet.

https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/ashwater-st-peter-beaworthy/

Some simple Acts of Worship that people can use at any time
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION Service Prayers dur[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [235.0 KB]

Services you may wish to attend, watch or listen to, or join in with via Zoom

Daily Service BBC Radio 4 9.45 a.m. week days

Sunday Worship BBC Radio 4 8.10 a.m.

Choral Evensong BBC Radio 3 Wednesday at 3.30 p.m. repeated Sunday at 3.00 p.m.

CAN YOU HELP US?

Ashwater Church still urgently needs some additional help for the future efficient running of the Church. The areas where help is needed are:

~ Volunteers to assist with various support roles to help keep the Church running, and support the work done by our vicar Paul whose duties cover multiple local Parishes as well as Ashwater

~ support, grant and income generation

~ Administrative support, including with the Diocese

~ Publicity and Communication to the wider community

~ Church building care, maintenance and development.

We need more people to get involved from both within the regular church congregation and parishioners who might attend less frequently.

We are seeking for volunteers who have the energy and drive to help move our church here forward. So, if you think you might be able to help in any of the above ways (or any other positive ways) then please contact Revd Dr Paul Fitzpatrick on 01409 254667, or at vicar-rubycountry@outlook.com

NEW TO ASHWATER?

Welcome!

If you are new to Ashwater and want to find out more about the life of the Church in Ashwater and across the Ruby Country Diocese generally or if you think you would like to become more involved in supporting the activities of the Church please get in touch or simply join us at our next service.

Services

Services at Ashwater are usually held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays each month at 9.30 am. See our home page for the next services.

All are welcome.

- whether you are new to the area or just visiting

- whether you have lived in the area for some time but not been to Church before

- whether you have been a regular church-goer before and have not attended for some time.

Need to talk?

It doesn't matter if you normally attend church or not, we are here for you. If you would like to speak to someone about how you are feeling, or if you need help please call:

Rev Dr Paul Fitzpatrick

Tel: 01409 254667

email: vicar-rubycountry@outlook.com

Keep connected - building a community for all

Please keep in touch even if you cannot attend Church services - phone or email Paul.

Private Prayer

Please contact Rev Dr Paul Fitzpatrick

Tel 01409 254667

email vicar-rubycountry@outlook.com

Ashwater bellringers

The bells at Ashwater have sounded out across the village for centuries. The recent interruption due to the Covid lockdown represents a mere hiccup in that history and a dedicated team continue the tradition.

Ashwater bellringers played their part in the Jubilee celebrations ringing the bells.

Ringing at Halwill Church on 3 June 2022 were Ashwater benefice bell ringers Eric Moon, Harold Jones, Liz Martin, Andrew Richards, Harvey Moon-Dix and Peter Potten.

The bellringers at St Peter's are seeking eager volunteers to join them in continuing the proud tradition of bellringing at Ashwater.

If you are interested in joining the team or simply curious and want to find out more please contact Tower Captain, Liz Martin

fizzandliz@yahoo.co.uk

Ashwater's Bellringers have played their part in national events including celebrating the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

For generations the Moon family have been associated with Ashwater village and bell ringing. Eric Moon, who lives next to the church, has been ringing for over 70 years and is still going strong. His grandfather was instrumental in augmenting the original ring of five bells to six and having the bells rehung in 1929. Eric’s grandson Harvey has continued the ringing tradition for the Moon family.

To get in touch please email: administrator@ashwaterparishchurch.com