St Francis's Church, Ashford , Kent

St Francis's Church, Ashford Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

Dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, this yellow bricked church was built between 1958-59 as a daughter church to Ashford's Parish Church of St. Mary's, but was administered by clergy from Christ Church, South Ashford. It was constructed to cater for the population of the post-war housing estates being constructed in South Ashford, including the (now) much-maligned Stanhope, a suburb built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Built according to liturgical tradition, St. Francis was built under budgetary constraints. Before the later extensions, the entire church was contained under one roof. The sanctuary is separated by communion rails while at the west end there is a gallery reached by a wooden staircase, under which there is a small vestry and toilet facilities. A purpose-built vicarage - intended as a residence for a curate - was constructed next to the church. Originally the church was Anglo-Catholic in tradition after its parent church, Christ Church, built in the mid Victorian-era in 1867. The altar is a stone mensa slab placed onto brick supports. There is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi on a bracket in the south-west corner and the Stations of the Cross are depicted as stick men - unusual, but a clever portrayal nonetheless. The octagonal font is a mass-produced Victorian design, with various Christian and heraldic symbols painted on its eight sides. Exactly how it came to be at St. Francis has been lost in the mysteries of time, but it most probably saw service at St. Paul's Mission Church - a former Primitive Methodist building in the town centre later adapted for Church of England worship - and latterly used as a base for the Boy Scouts. The stem has been covered by wooden panelling, probably constructed by former parishioner Clifford Roy Allen, an amateur craftsman who also manufactured the lectern in the shape of an eagle; as well as a priest's chair in the sanctuary and a prayer box close to the west entrance. As with the fittings and furnishings of many Mission Churches, the loving care and unswerving devotion shown by the individual far outweighs the quality of their workmanship. In 1995 a new hall was added to the south-eastern side of the church. This has ensured that the building - in the middle of a relatively deprived residential area - can better serve the needs of the community. Nowadays St. Francis is used more as a community hub than a place of worship - although it still holds two midweek communion services each month. Its service to the local community includes making and providing affordable lunches to the poorest members of society. The church also hosts activities for children during thr school holidays. These activities have undoubtedly saved the building from being sold and demolished, as the Church of England would love to benefit from the land value; perhaps wrongly prioritising this more than the spiritual benefits to the local community. Text by Rob Baker

1851 Census Details

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Architecture Details

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