A Brief History of Holy SepulchreAshington can trace its origins back to Anglo-Saxon times but is now one of the largest towns in Northumberland. The town grew from a few farms in the early 19th century to a large coal mining village when the colliery opened in 1867. At one point, Ashington was known as the largest mining village in the world. In March 1885, Revd Ellis called a meeting of his Ashington parishioners which gave birth to a scheme for the erection of a new church and the formation of a new parish. So with a building committee of five, a team of collectors appointed, work began on laying the foundations 1886. Holy Communion was celebrated for the first time here on the 20th February and on the 12th June the burial ground was consecrated. The first funeral took place the following day. On the 29th May 1889, the Revd John Lightfoot, Curate at Bothal was inducted as Vicar of the Parish, our history shows he has been followed by 13 Vicars including the current incumbent, and 8 assistant curates. Over the years numerous alterations have been made to the interior and exterior of the church. In the 1970s we said goodbye to the Vicarage next door and in 1996 a major refurbishment took place which included restoring the pews to their original condition. The Miners Chapel of Remembrance, dedicated in 2012 serves as a constant reminder to our founding heritage. Today, our Church building continues to be a place where the faithful gather, the sad are comforted and God’s kingdom is proclaimed. We serve each other and the people of Ashington with love and generosity, the founding legacy we hold and pass on to future generations.
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