Welcoming Tom

This September marks a major milestone in the continued ministry of St Giles’ and St George’s to the people of Ashtead and beyond, as the staff, volunteers and congregations busy themselves with the preparations for the coming of a new Rector.

Earlier this year, Ashtead Parish were delighted to announce the appointment of Reverend Tom Darwent as the new Parish Rector. After a period of vacancy this was welcome news indeed. Tom, his wife Kate, and their two children, have much to do in preparation for their move from Camberley, where Tom has served as Vicar at St Paul’s since 2016.

In simple terms, there will be a ‘Service of Welcome’ held at St George’s Church on Thursday 5 September, at 7.30pm. However, there are three parts to the ceremony, known as the Collation, Induction and Installation, to be incorporated into the process of the welcome, each of which hail from the annals of church history and representing the spiritual, legal and practical aspects of the role. The service will be jointly carried out by the Right Reverend Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford and The Venerable Martin Breadmore, Archdeacon of Dorking, and the event will be attended by representatives of local organisations from the wider community.

And as the Darwent family settle into their new home, and Tom into his new role, The Ashtead Parish community look forward to this new season ahead for their church.