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 chairs, replaced in the late
1980s, seating around 60 people. 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.
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In the spring of 2005
major work began on repairing and repainting the outside of the church and
during this 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 replaced within the steeple.
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A service of Holy
Communion is held on two Sundays a month as well as at the major festivals of
Christmas and Easter. The church
is well supported by local residents and Flower Festivals, Harvest Suppers and
Church Fetes are all held within the church and grounds
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To see it on the map, click here.
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