One Parish Five Mission Areas
Ashford Town Parish is one parish made up of five mission areas, bringing together a family of church communities across Ashford and the surrounding villages.
Each community has its own character and traditions, but together we are united in serving the people of Ashford, growing in faith, and sharing the love of Jesus.
Across our churches you’ll find worship, community, and space to explore faith, wherever you are on your journey, you are warmly welcome here.
Ashford Town Centre, Ignite + Christ Church
At Ashford Town Centre, Ignite & Christ Church (part of Ashford Town Parish) we are passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people can encounter Jesus, experience community, and discover hope in everyday life. From ancient worship in the heart of the town to café-style church gatherings and rich Anglo-Catholic tradition, we are united by a shared desire to serve Ashford with faith, compassion, and hospitality.
Who Are We
We are a diverse Christian community made up of people of all ages and backgrounds. Across our churches and gatherings you’ll find traditional worship, creative expressions of church, community cafés, prayer, music, friendship, and practical support. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time, returning to church, or looking for a place to belong, you are warmly welcome here.
Our Story
Ashford Town Centre: St Mary the Virgin
Our life together is rooted in worship, welcome, and community. St Mary’s has stood at the heart of Ashford for over a thousand years and continues to be a place where prayer and everyday life meet. Today, this beautiful and historic church is alive with worship, community cafés, music, arts events, hospitality, and spaces for people to encounter God in the middle of town life.
Ignite
Ignite is church in a different kind of setting — relaxed, welcoming, and centred around community and care. Gathering around shared meals, conversation, worship, and practical support, Ignite creates space for people to belong, ask questions, receive support, and discover hope. It is a place of friendship, dignity, and faith for many across Ashford.
Christ Church, South Ashford
Known as “The Railwayman’s Church,” Christ Church was built to serve Ashford’s growing railway community and has been a place of faithful worship and prayer since the 1860s. Today, as a Festival Church, it continues to hold a special place in the life of South Ashford through its rich worship tradition, historic presence, and ongoing ministry within the community.
Great Chart, Singleton Community Church + St Francis
At Great Chart, Singleton Community Church & St Francis (part of Ashford Town Parish) we are passionate about helping people encounter Jesus, build authentic community, and discover faith in everyday life. Across our churches you’ll find ancient tradition, contemporary worship, practical care, and a heart for serving local people with generosity and hope.
Who Are We
We are a diverse and welcoming Christian community made up of people of all ages and backgrounds. From village church worship to contemporary family gatherings and community outreach, we seek to create spaces where everyone can belong, grow in faith, and experience the love of God.
Our Story
Great Chart: St Mary the Virgin
Our life together is rooted in worship, community, and faithful presence. St Mary’s Great Chart has been a place of prayer for centuries, serving the village through changing generations and seasons of life. Today, alongside ongoing restoration and renewal, the church continues to gather people together through worship, hospitality, community events, and care for local people.
Singleton Community Church
Singleton Community Church is a lively and welcoming church family meeting in the heart of the Singleton community. With contemporary worship, strong community connections, home groups, prayer gatherings, and activities for all ages, SCC is a place where people can explore faith, build friendships, and encounter the transforming love of Jesus together.
St Francis, South Ashford
St Francis has a strong heart for serving the local community with practical care, welcome, and hope. Working alongside local partners and charities, the church hosts activities that support families, children, and young people, creating spaces where relationships can grow and people can experience God’s love in action.
Kennington
At Kennington (part of Ashford Town Parish) we are a friendly and welcoming Christian community seeking to follow Jesus, grow in faith, and serve our local area with love and hope. Across our two worship spaces, we offer a mix of traditional and modern worship, alongside a strong social and community life.
Who Are We
We are a church family made up of people of all ages and backgrounds, journeying together in faith. Whether you are exploring Christianity, returning to church, or looking for a place to belong, you will find a warm welcome here.
Our Story
St Mary’s Church & Hall, Kennington
St Mary’s has long been a place of worship, prayer, and community life in Kennington. Today it continues to serve as a focal point for traditional worship, pastoral care, and community gatherings, alongside its church hall which hosts a wide range of local groups and events.
St Mary’s Community Centre
Our Community Centre on Rylands Road is a lively hub of activity and connection. Alongside worship services, it is a place where people gather for friendship, support, and community life, helping us connect with the wider Kennington area in practical and meaningful ways.
Together, these two sites form a church that is rooted in tradition but open to change, committed to serving our neighbourhood and sharing the love of Jesus in everyday life.
Kingsnorth + Shadoxhurst
Sharing God’s love, igniting hope and investing in community
At Kingsnorth + Shadoxhurst Churches (part of the Ashford Town Parish) we exist to help you discover Jesus, deepen your faith, and find hope and purpose in everyday life. Our vision is simple but powerful: Sharing God’s love, igniting hope, and investing in community.
Who Are We
We are an intergenerational Christian community, children, young people, families, and older generations, growing together in the way of Jesus. We believe everyone is welcome, everyone belongs, and everyone has a part to play in God’s story.
Our Story
Kingsnorth Church: St Michael & All Angels
Our life together is rooted in history and hope. St Michael & All Angels, Kingsnorth, has stood here since the 14th century and is a testament to centuries of prayer, worship, and community life. Today, that ancient building is alive with new life, hosting worship, prayer, children’s work, community meals, concerts, and hospitality.
Shadoxhurst Church: St Peter & St Paul
Our life together is shaped by faith, friendship, and community. Nestled in the village, St Peter & St Paul, Shadoxhurst, has been a place of prayer and worship for generations. Today, this peaceful and welcoming church continues to be a space where people gather to encounter God, support one another, and mark life’s important moments together. ) for Kingsnorth and Shadoxhurst mission area I now need you to do it for Ashford Town Centre, Ignite & Christ Church mission area iv got his info but it needs to be a similar length: Ashford Town Centre
Willesborough & Sevington
At St Mary the Virgin, Willesborough (part of Ashford Town Parish) we are a church shaped by over a thousand years of worship, prayer, and community life. From Saxon origins through medieval growth and Victorian restoration to modern reordering, we continue to be a place where ancient faith meets a living, growing community today. Our heart is to offer welcome, worship, and space for encounter with God in the midst of everyday life.
Who Are We
We are a welcoming and diverse Christian community rooted in the life of Willesborough and Sevington. As a church at the centre of a growing urban area, we seek to be open to all, offering a place of belonging, prayer, and connection. Whether through traditional worship, quiet reflection, or community life in the building, everyone is invited to share in the life of the church.
Our Story
St Mary the Virgin, Willesborough
Our life together is deeply rooted in history and shaped by a continuing commitment to serve the present community. This ancient church has stood for over a thousand years, witnessing generations of faith, change, and growth. Today it remains a place of worship and welcome, where people gather for prayer, services, and significant moments of life, alongside a growing sense of hospitality and community use in the heart of modern Willesborough.
Sevington
Sevington is part of the wider parish community we serve through St Mary the Virgin, Willesborough. As a growing residential and business area on the edge of Ashford, it reflects the changing shape of our town and the opportunities that brings for new relationships, new connections, and new ways of being church. We are committed to being present, available, and prayerful for Sevington, seeking to serve its people with the same welcome, care, and hope that shapes all our ministry.
Our Vision
We will see many more people of all ages encountering faith, coming to faith and growing in faith through our family of churches.
Many More People Encountering Faith
We want to be a church that is deeply connected to the life of our town, serving our communities with generosity, compassion, and hope. Through community spaces, outreach projects, events, and everyday relationships, we want more people across Ashford to experience the love of Jesus in practical and meaningful ways.
Many More People Coming to Faith
We long to see more people discovering faith in Jesus and finding a church community where they can belong and grow. We want to create welcoming, accessible spaces for people to ask questions, explore faith, and encounter God, both in our existing churches and in new communities across Ashford.
Many More People Growing in Faith
Faith is a journey, and we want to help people grow deeper in their relationship with God. Through worship, prayer, small groups, learning, serving, and discipleship, we want to encourage one another to live out our faith with confidence, generosity, and purpose in everyday life.
Many More Children and Young People Engaging with Our Family of Churches
We believe children and young people are a vital part of the church today, not just the future. We want to create safe, joyful, and inspiring spaces where young people can explore faith, build friendships, and know they are loved, valued, and welcomed as part of our church family.
Many More People Encountering Faith
We want to be a church that is deeply connected to the life of our town, serving our communities with generosity, compassion, and hope. Through community spaces, outreach projects, events, and everyday relationships, we want more people across Ashford to experience the love of Jesus in practical and meaningful ways.
Many More People Coming to Faith
We long to see more people discovering faith in Jesus and finding a church community where they can belong and grow. We want to create welcoming, accessible spaces for people to ask questions, explore faith, and encounter God, both in our existing churches and in new communities across Ashford.
Many More People Growing in Faith
Faith is a journey, and we want to help people grow deeper in their relationship with God. Through worship, prayer, small groups, learning, serving, and discipleship, we want to encourage one another to live out our faith with confidence, generosity, and purpose in everyday life.
Many More Children and Young People Engaging with Our Family of Churches
We believe children and young people are a vital part of the church today, not just the future. We want to create safe, joyful, and inspiring spaces where young people can explore faith, build friendships, and know they are loved, valued, and welcomed as part of our church family.