Saint Michael

Introduction

Saint Michael in Ashtead began as a daughter church of the Leatherhead parish of Our Lady and Saint Peter.

History

In July 1958 an attempt was made to set the hut chapel on fire. In March 1963 silver candlesticks were stolen from the altar but were found by police in an antique shop in Leatherhead.

On October 7th 1963 Mr French formally requested permission to build a new church on the site next to Woodfield Lane. Planning permission for the new church was refused by the Town Planning Committee on October 10th 1963. The statue of Our Lady was moved from the garden of Rushmere to outside the new church when it opened.

Architecture and furnishings

The altar and Baptismal Font, both made of Welsh slate, were in place for the official opening. Relics of Saint Boniface and Saint Pius were inserted into the altar stone during the consecration.

On Mr. Harrington's recommendation a land drain was laid parallel with The Marld, running the full length of the church and priest's house, connected to the surface water sewer in Woodfield Lane. In February 1968 the car park was properly laid out and in March 1969 landscaping of the grounds was started.

The Bishop wished the statue of Saint Michael to match that of Saint Joseph and the Altar Crucifix to be double-sided and suspended from the ceiling. In December 1965 a new electronic organ to be used in the new church was delivered.

The main noticeboard in the vestibule was made and donated by a member of the parish. The certificate of completion for the church was only issued on May 20th 1969 after all problems had been ironed out.

Music and liturgy

The May Procession was a very important occasion with all the children involved, and the Sisters of Saint Andrew prepared the children and helped with the organisation.

Parish life

In March 1963 the youth club members were busy collecting and reselling paperbacks to raise money for famine relief. Annual seasonal events included the summer garden party and Christmas Bazaar, with the November 1956 Bazaar raising £250. Christmas bazaars were held in the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall until the parish hall was built in 1986. On February 3rd, 1957 a series of talks for non-Catholics was started.

In February 1958 the weekly newsletter contained a list of Catholic schools available in the locality. The parish has a link to Tanzania through Action in Africa. CAFOD is supported by St Michael's.

From 1963 the headmaster of Saint Dominic's Prep School was accommodated at Rushmere and helped at weekends. In October 1959 the Bishop promised the people could start building when one third of the money needed had been collected.

Supportive letters for the planning application came from Lord Barnby, Lord of the Manor of Ashtead, and the Rector of the Anglican Parish. The appeal was allowed on January 13th 1965 when the diocesan solicitor enclosed the official notice from the Ministry.

Sacraments and pastoral care

In 1932 Father McHale, a curate at Leatherhead, began a Saturday morning catechism class for Ashtead children. March 15th 1959 saw the start of the first Mission in the parish, given by Fathers Hooe and McGowan of the Catholic Missionary Society.

In February 1949 the first wedding was celebrated in the hut. Joseph Cribb designed the altar and Baptismal font and prepared the altar stone set in the centre of the altar.

Visiting

After the consecration ceremony, the congregation and clergy walked along Woodfield Lane to the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall for a buffet meal. At least one parish Dinner Dance was held in the Bull Hotel, Leatherhead, on January 8th 1964.

In November 1970 the statue of Our Lady was replaced after being destroyed by vandals. The hut, which was falling to pieces, was soon demolished to make way for the car park. In the first winter of the new church the whole building, particularly the Entrance Vestibule, was bedevilled by excessive condensation. The heating ducts were found to be almost full of water, causing the condensation problem.