Church of the Ascension
Blackheath

  

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The Church: Past and Present

The Church of the Ascension  was established as the Dartmouth Chapel in 1697 by Susannah Graham, aunt of William Legge (later Earl of Dartmouth and Lord of the Manor of Lewisham). She was also the second daughter of Sir William Washington, the great-great-great uncle of George Washington, the first president of the United States. It was not a parish church but was linked with St Mary’s in Lewisham.

The church was rebuilt in 1750 and  extended in 1838. It became a parish church on Ascension Day, 3rd of May 1883. A hall was added in 1906.  The church suffered bomb damage in December 1940 and was restored in 1950 when the north and south galleries were removed. Since then a modern organ has been built in the west gallery to replace a Victorian instrument. This released space for a new vestry and the whole church was redecorated in 1991. 

The Ascension has always been an active parish with the support of the local residents. In 1893 the church was already assisting  the work of local District Visitors – the forerunners of the modern social workers. These were volunteers who would visit poorer areas, to provide support, relief and education. They were visiting the poorer parts of the parish in the then Lethbridge Road, which is now Lethbridge estate.
 

  

 


 		 The church has often been in the forefront of change. In the 60s and 70s the church was open day and night, for prayer, silence, and shelter. One of the clergy at the church, Elsie Baker was a leading figure in the ordination of women, and became one of the CofE’s first women priests at the age of 85. She was at the Ascension for 50 years!

The Church has a strong commitment to the wider world, showing itself in our concern for justice and peace and world development.  Since the 70’s we have had links with Amnesty International and host its twice yearly book sales.  Our retiring collection every month supports projects and NGO’s working to eliminate poverty in the Majority World. 

A youth club known as the Wash House was set up in 1991 with the help of members of the church. It still runs and is providing support and facilities to local people in the estates in the parish.

Our involvement in the wider community in Lewisham. is expressed by a commitment to a refugee project (LEWCAS) and members of our congregation run ESOL classes at the Holy Trinity Centre which forms part of our Team Ministry.  Our pastoral team visits a home for the elderly run by the Salvation Army and a Psychiatric Unit within our Parish.

(For more information see under Community) 

Our parish is very mixed – the building is in a wealthy part of Blackheath, with open space and large houses, which then moves to streets and flats and include areas which are very deprived. The new Ravensbourne Team Ministry (which includes St John’s and Holy Trinity, Deptford) is a way of focusing our resources to the work and needs around us.