Our Rector

Revd Dr Paul Fitzpatrick

The Rev’d Dr Paul Fitzpatrick is the Rector of the Ruby Country Benefice (consisting of the parishes of Ashwater, Black Torrington with Highhampton, Beaworthy, Clawton, Halwill and Tetcott).

St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) at Ashwater is part of the Ruby Country Benefice, with Beaworthy, Black Torrington with Highampton, Clawton, Halwill and Tetcott.

A warm welcome to all vistors to our site, whether you live in the Parish of Ashwater or in our neighbouring Parishes of Beaworthy, Halwill, Tetcott with Luffincott, Clawton, Black Torrington with Highampton, or wherever you might be. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

The next services and events at Ashwater St Peter ad Vincula and other Benefice Churches

3.30pm Saturday 4th April

Books and Buns event

St. Peter Ad Vincula, Ashwater

8.00am Sunday 5th April, Easter Sunday

Halwill churches together sunrise service

Village hall carpark

9.30am Sunday 5th April, Easter Sunday,

Easter Morning Prayer

St. Peter Ad Vincula, Ashwater

11.00am Sunday 5th April, Easter Sunday

Easter Day service

St. Leonard’s, Clawton

11.00am Sunday 5th April, Easter Sunday

Easter holy communion

St. Mary’s, Black Torrington

11.00am Sunday 5th April, Easter Sunday

Easter morning service

St. Peter & St. James, Halwill

5.30pm Sunday 5th April, Easter Sunday

Easter tea and evening service

Holy Cross, Tetcott

Ashwater services routinely take place on the 1st and 3rd Sundays each month at 09.30 a.m.

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Mission prayer

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose in your being there. Christ, who indwells you, has something He wants to do through you where you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power

March 2026 saw the Annual Parish Church Meeting held at St Peter ad Vincula.

Reports were received from the Rector, Rev. Paul and from the PCC Secretary and Treasurer.

Members of the PCC were elected to serve for a further year along with Rev Paul:

C Bowness (Churchwarden), E Martin (Secretary), D Ching (Treasurer), C March, A March.

Help the taxman help us run and maintain Ashwater Church

Winter storms and running repairs mean there is a constant and growing list of work which costs significant sums to keep the fabric of the Church in acceptable repair. In addition any work to support the local community as part of the wider mission of the Church needs resources to be able to operate.

Ashwater Parish is registered with the Parish Giving Scheme which allows you to give to this Parish securely and safely online. The Scheme automatically arranges for 25% Gift Aid (where eligible) to be paid to the Church following your donation.

Please follow the link below to the Parish Giving website where its easy to use forms allow you to set up and process your gifts by clicking 'Regular Giving' to set up a monthly, quarterly, or annual Direct Debit or ‘One-Off Gift’ to make a single gift using your Debit, Credit Card or Apple/Google Pay wallet.

https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/ashwater-st-peter-beaworthy/

CAN YOU HELP US?

Ashwater Church still urgently needs some additional help for the future efficient running of the Church. The areas where help is needed are:

~ Volunteers to assist with various support roles to help keep the Church running, and support the work done by our vicar Paul whose duties cover multiple local Parishes as well as Ashwater

~ support, grant and income generation

~ Administrative support, including with the Diocese

~ Publicity and Communication to the wider community

~ Church building care, maintenance and development.

We need more people to get involved from both within the regular church congregation and parishioners who might attend less frequently.

We are seeking for volunteers who have the energy and drive to help move our church here forward. So, if you think you might be able to help in any of the above ways (or any other positive ways) then please contact Revd Dr Paul Fitzpatrick on 01409 254667, or at vicar-rubycountry@outlook.com

NEW TO ASHWATER?

Welcome!

If you are new to Ashwater and want to find out more about the life of the Church in Ashwater and across the Ruby Country Diocese generally or if you think you would like to become more involved in supporting the activities of the Church please get in touch or simply join us at our next service.

Services

Services at Ashwater are usually held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays each month at 9.30 am. See our home page for the next services.

All are welcome.

- whether you are new to the area or just visiting

- whether you have lived in the area for some time but not been to Church before

- whether you have been a regular church-goer before and have not attended for some time.

Need to talk?

It doesn't matter if you normally attend church or not, we are here for you. If you would like to speak to someone about how you are feeling, or if you need help please call:

Rev Dr Paul Fitzpatrick

Tel: 01409 254667

email: vicar-rubycountry@outlook.com

Keep connected - building a community for all

Please keep in touch even if you cannot attend Church services - phone or email Paul.

Private Prayer

Please contact Rev Dr Paul Fitzpatrick

Tel 01409 254667

email vicar-rubycountry@outlook.com

Ashwater bellringers

The bells at Ashwater have sounded out across the village for centuries. The recent interruption due to the Covid lockdown represents a mere hiccup in that history and a dedicated team continue the tradition.

Ashwater bellringers played their part in the Jubilee celebrations ringing the bells.

Ringing at Halwill Church on 3 June 2022 were Ashwater benefice bell ringers Eric Moon, Harold Jones, Liz Martin, Andrew Richards, Harvey Moon-Dix and Peter Potten.

The bellringers at St Peter's are seeking eager volunteers to join them in continuing the proud tradition of bellringing at Ashwater.

If you are interested in joining the team or simply curious and want to find out more please contact Tower Captain, Liz Martin

fizzandliz@yahoo.co.uk

Ashwater's Bellringers have played their part in national events including celebrating the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

For generations the Moon family have been associated with Ashwater village and bell ringing. Eric Moon, who lives next to the church, has been ringing for over 70 years and is still going strong. His grandfather was instrumental in augmenting the original ring of five bells to six and having the bells rehung in 1929. Eric’s grandson Harvey has continued the ringing tradition for the Moon family.

To get in touch please email: administrator@ashwaterparishchurch.com