A Celebration of Community & Faith in Ashtead
On 14 June, Ashtead was alive with celebration, connection and a whole lot of joy.
Beginning with Ashtead Village Day, where Churches Together celebrated their 25th Anniversary at the 21st Village Day Tea Tent. A popular pausing point for visitors seeking sustenance and somewhere to rest their weary legs, this year’s offering didn’t disappoint. As James Close, who has guided the management of the tea-tent for 10 years, observes, “It was a great day! All the tables were full all afternoon. Couples lying on the grass nearby, nearly everything sold and a Brass Band playing nearby.”
There was a guest performance from the Ashtead Community Choir, which was enjoyed by the many onlookers, who were enjoying an ice-cold drink whilst leafing through their complimentary Bibles, handed out to visitors to the tent. Tom & Sarah were on hand throughout the day, making connections with our wider community. A special thanks to James & Eileen Close for a successful final year on the management committee. And to the 80-strong team of volunteers from across the community who made this possible.
“It was a great day! All the tables were full all afternoon. Couples lying on the grass nearby, nearly everything sold and a Brass Band playing nearby.”
And the fun didn’t stop there! Despite the busyness of the day, folk were still happy to continue the celebrations at the Church & Community Barn Dance at St George’s Church. As organiser, Alexa Elstub confirms:
“The Barn Dance was a great success with 140 people aged 8 to 88, including lots of extra friends and family and several groups from the community some who had never been in the church before. There were lots of young people full of energy for all the lively dances, whilst others enjoyed sitting watching the action whizz past them, and a selection of gentler dances gave opportunities for everyone to join in and fill the church with laughter and fun! The Bring and Share Supper worked really well with plenty of space for people to sit and chat and plenty of food. Special thanks go to the Band - Mary and George Hayward, Paul Goodridge, Gary Stewart and Nathan Elstub, also to Richard Wadey on sound and our caller Sophie Barnes (née Simpson), Lynne and Rick Slater and Rayvine Saks - chief food organisers on the night and lastly to my parents for the beautiful table decorations from their own garden!”
“Overall it felt a really fun church and community event- Let’s do it again sometime!”
What a joy it was to see Ashtead come alive with connection, celebration and shared purpose. From morning tea to evening reels, the day reminded us of the simple power of gathering—of laughter around tables, friendly chats over cake, and dancing that welcomed all ages and abilities. A huge thank you to James, Alexa and to everyone who gave their time, energy, or simply joined in the fun. The spirit of community shone brightly in Ashtead that day, and it’s a light we can carry forward in all we do.
