New Parish Opens in Historic Garrison Church

A significant milestone has been reached with the establishment of the first new parish in the Diocese of Guildford in a quarter of a century. Services are now underway at the renovated St Barbara's Church in Deepcut, a former military site that has been transformed into a community hub.

This new parish is set to serve the burgeoning population of a 1,200-home development planned for the former army base. Reverend Daniel Natnael expressed his delight, highlighting the move towards a seven-day-a-week church presence at the heart of the community.

During the renovation period, the dedicated parish members actively engaged with the local populace, utilizing alternative public spaces. These included hosting a baby and toddler group at a nearby care home and conducting weekly coffee mornings in The Frog pub, which also served as the minister's temporary office. The church is now equipped to conduct weddings, funerals, and baptisms, with Reverend Natnael emphasizing that the building is secondary to the people it serves.