Heritagecoa by Heritage @ Ascension https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672 "One roof many stories" from Church of the Ascension Blackheath, London SE10 8BF Visitors -please "like" or leave a brief comment on any of the "stories". Use the pink cross at the bottom right of your screen to add an image and text. We ask that contributions are relevant and brief - there may be editing and moderation of content. The Project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. en-us 2021-05-05 10:50:15 UTC 2023-01-23 10:30:37 UTC hello@padlet.com Transforming the Church of the Ascension HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493231631 Amazing news in May 2021 - our history project "One Roof Many Stories" has been awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery. This is part of a wider Transformation Project ]]> 2021-05-05 10:52:09 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493231631 Susanna Grahme HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493242898 Our timeline starts with Susanna in 1695 ! ]]> 2021-05-05 10:58:25 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493242898 Emily Davidsons funeral HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493268375 In 1913 Charles Escreet, vicar at the Church of Ascension co-officiated at the funeral of sufragette Emily Davidson. Passionate campaigner for womens rights, Emily died from severe injuries incurred when she ran into the path of the kings horse at the Grand National.]]> 2021-05-05 11:11:44 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493268375 Greyladies College -1 HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493436056 established in early 1900s - on the site which is now Greyladies gardens

]]> 2021-05-05 12:19:01 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493436056 Geyladies College - 2 "Good Works"- HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493446307 (Extract from "Everywomans Encyclopedia" 1912) 
"In these days when so many women of leisure devote their time to religious and philanthropic work, the Greyladies' College for Women Workers affords a useful centre for residence and mutual help and fellowship.
There is nothing grey about it save the name. It is a delightful country house, once the mansion of Lord Dartmouth, and stands on the breezy heights of Blackheath, in the midst of its own beautiful grounds, and with far-stretching views over the surrounding country to the Crystal Palace"
The college is described as a society of ladies living together for the purpose of helping in the work of the Church of England under the incumbents of the diocese. The bishop of the diocese has ultimate control over all its affairs. The Greyladies work in twenty-two parishes in South London.
]]> 2021-05-05 12:22:25 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493446307 Greyladies - Image 3 HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493457986 A group of Greyladies taken on an annual festival day x Miss Wordsworth, the lady head of the college - from Chest of Books.com see link Greyladies  part 2 ]]> 2021-05-05 12:25:47 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493457986 Will of Susanna Grahme HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493551840 Susanna who founded the original chapel died in 1698 - and her will is a fascinating document  (extract) "...except my plate and china, which I give and bequeath to my niece Mrs. Susanna Grahme, his Lordship’s sister...." Image of Legge family crest in Ascension Church window ]]> 2021-05-05 12:51:49 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493551840 HollyHedge Bungalows HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493586424 Follow this link and scrolldown to images of the former bungalows- temporary housing  on the Heath. Any evidence that residents came to the church to worship ?  ]]> 2021-05-05 12:59:52 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493586424 📹MartinPreston HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493681627 Martin was Assistant Cur­­ate of the Ascension (1988-95). He was also active in establishing the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. He died in December 2020.  As an obvious part of updating and creating an "inclusive" history - we want to record and share  aspects of his life and work in both church and community. We would welcome particpation in researching  relevant papers and LGBTQ+ archives.]]> 2021-05-05 13:21:12 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493681627 Elsie Baker (1909-2003) HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493722114 Elsie was connected to the Ascension in many ways from the 1930s- 1990s. Her work with parishioners and in the choir was one part of this - and she became well known for her role in the Movement for the ordination of women.   To quote from her obituary: "Her gifts in community ministry are renowned and the stories about her legendary. She was an outstanding and dedicated priest."]]> 2021-05-05 13:29:32 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1493722114 May Billinghurst HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1530664554 A brass plaque in the church commemorates Henry Billinghurst "For many years a faithful worshipper" who died in 1912. The Billinghurst family lived locally and we are interested to find out if his daughter Rosa May Billinghurst worshipped or was active in the church - since, before her fame as the "cripple suffragette"  (sic) (Pictured: May had polio and was a wheelchair user) May is known to have run a Sunday School locally with her sister Alice and visited both the "slums of Deptford" and Greenwich Workhouse.  For wide range of research on Greenwich and Lewisham suffragettes and suffragists- see https://greenwich100.com/

]]> 2021-05-17 10:37:30 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1530664554 Refugee Camp on Blackheath HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1614179201 The camp on Blackheath in the summer of 1709 sheltered "Poor Palatines". This referred to some 13,000 Germans who emigrated to England between May and November 1709, seeking refuge. The government had advertised for European settlers to travel to the newly colonised lands in America (as they had previously with Caribbean). 
It is a long shot - but we will be seeking any evidence that the newly founded "chapel" at Dartmouth Row 
had any connections with the refugees on their doorstep - or took part in the debate at that time.  
Their arrival in England, and the inability of the British Government to integrate them, led to a highly politicized debate over the merits of immigration. (extract from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Palatines) ]]> 2021-06-18 12:10:27 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1614179201 The stag https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1627152293 This is the one by a local "street artist" just round the corner on Blackheath]]> 2021-06-27 17:32:51 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1627152293 Legge https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1627153121 This is the stag on the stained glass in church]]> 2021-06-27 17:34:16 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1627153121 Washington Window HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1641657053 Attached image courtesy of Tony West. Tony points to the Washington family connection to the Ascension's founder Sussannah Grahme. That could potentially make for a great connection with George Washington ! Tell us what you know. As with all these little "seeds" more research will be required to get the evidence and the "story" straight ! ]]> 2021-07-08 08:19:36 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1641657053 Local History - Ignatious Sancho HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1643497159 Being a writer and composer, abolitonist and man of many talents - Sancho is one of the  better known Africans who were enslaved and lived in Greenwich in the mid-1700s.  We plan to research his possible connection with the Legge family and thus Dartmouth Chapel (later Ascension).  
Ann shared evidence ( Lewisham rate book) that at least some of the "three sisters"  - mentioned in the 1782 biography of Ignatious Sancho  - were  probably of the Legge family. The Legges were directly connected to Dartmouth Chapel. Quote from British Library "...Around the age of two, Sancho was taken to London, where he was forced to work as a slave for three sisters at a house in Greenwich..."

Image: Plaque /memorial to Sancho in the wall of Greenwich Park 
]]> 2021-07-09 16:25:27 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1643497159 South Bank Religion https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1740002349 How did the Ascension become part of the South Bank Religion movement? What are its features and how do we see that tradition expressed today?]]> 2021-09-14 16:06:45 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1740002349 HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1743179937 There are 53 names on the War Memorial in the Church of the Ascension, Blackheath. Every year on Remembrance Sunday we promise 'we will remember them.' This book of research into the stories behind the names by Harriet Hall helps us to keep that promise and honour their memory. Published 2015. Order a copy here


]]> 2021-09-15 15:34:08 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1743179937 Entertaining the Troops 1915 HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1810219321 Ascension Parish magazine 1915 records: "all empty houses in the Parish had been commandeered by a battalion of the Gloucesters and one of the Argyll and Suthland Highlanders ." Some 200 Gloucesters were in church before Christmas......a churchwarden has thrown open two rooms in his house for the soldiers to smoke and play games. Others have lent bathrooms and proferred hospitality."  A "Dartmouth Club" was opened in the corner shop (at junction Dartmouth Row and Blackheath Hill). Church Room opened weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons for writing/reading. And it has held two concerts and a whist drive. The Dartmouth Club at Dartmouth Lodge has a billiard table, two bagatelle tables, games, newspapers, magazine, concerts, sing-songs ‘much appreciated by the men, as are the cheap refreshments’. At YMCA canteen there is a French class, a bible talk and a concert party. By June 1915 most of the soldiers had left for France. Many never returned.  - Thanks to Harriet Hall for these notes from Parish magazine.]]> 2021-10-12 09:46:35 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1810219321 Dartmouth Row by P.J Cross https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1997899036 One of a small number of paintings representing Dartmouth Row.  His other paintings of SE London can be seen at https://artuk.org/discover/artists/cross-p-j-]]> 2022-01-18 13:36:08 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/1997899036 HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/2079465335   Paul Ostreicher - Reflecting on the period -from the 1970s when the door of the Ascension was open night and day to provide a place for passing "tramps" to shelter and sleep.]]> 2022-03-05 21:59:33 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/2079465335 National Lottery Heritage Fund HeritageCoA https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/2187796554 In 2021 the church obtained funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help us explore the untold "radical, inclusive history" that has been a significant part of the churches history throughout  the twentieth century.
The many stories on this page are one way that we are sharing that history.
Please join us for an Exhibition highlighting the people and events that make up the history of the Church on Dartmouth Row SE10 - on Saturday 25th June 2022 - from 2-6pm. This is  a  Lewisham Borough of Culture community event.]]> 2022-05-17 15:05:37 UTC https://padlet.com/HeritageCoA/m1pryz7ieasxj672/wish/2187796554