FAREWELL
TO FIONA ASHTON
Next month, after 29 years of being a part of the St Andrew the Great church family, we will be saying a very fond
farewell to Fiona Ashton, who will be moving to the Cotswolds. The StAG Mag had a chat with Fiona to reflect on some
of her memories and experiences over the years and her hopes for the future.
When did you first join St Andrew the Great?
In 1987, we moved to the Round church (as it was then), where my
husband Mark was appointed as vicar. We came up from Balham, with
our three young children, where he had been leading CYFA nationally,
(building local church based youth work and developing camps and
ventures) and also amongst local teenagers with our own church. We
began at the Round rather daunted at the prospect of picking up the
great work Mark Ruston had established. We were encouraged to focus
on building up the work with families and other non students whilst
not compromising the student work.
What are some of your memories of those early years?
Life was busy! There were so many people to meet and get to know, the vicarage was often a hive of activity, with church
family members coming for meals, Bible study meetings and the staff team based and working from the church office,
which was in the vicarage. I remember forming friendships with a number of other mums at the school gate, some of
whom are still good friends today. We also started Bounce-A-Round (our baby and toddler group) in the vicarage sitting
room, as a way to reach out to families with young children.
In what ways have you seen StAG change?
In the most important of ways StAG has remained wonderfully unchanged! We inherited an amazingly united church
when we arrived, and I believe it remains a church that is united, united around the gospel of the crucified and risen
Christ. A central focus on the importance of evangelism and discipleship remains also, which is so important.
But there have been changes over the years. In the early 90’s we moved from meeting in the Round to the Union Debating
Chamber, bringing the students and families together on a Sunday morning, and then moved into StAG in 1994, which
was marked with amazing sacrificial giving by the congregation. Since then there have been changes around each of the
three church plants, which were met so graciously, and generously, by the church family. Again, it was the unity in the
gospel which enabled change to be undertaken so well.
Could you tell us something of what God has been teaching you over the last couple of years?
During Mark’s illness and subsequent death I learnt a huge amount about learning to trust in God’s sovereignty, love
and faithfulness. Although I had previously known that God is in control, somehow the experience of those years has
more deeply embedded in me a trust that He is sovereign and so faithful. Mark’s resolute focus on being called home
during this time was also hugely influential, bringing more clarity to the promise of eternity, which changes everything!
What will you miss about StAG?
It will be a huge challenge for me to leave this church family after 29 years. I am hugely grateful for the privilege it has
been to serve and learn with the church for so many years and I will miss being a part of this family so very much.
How can we be praying for you as you move?
Mark used to say, “every change in our lives will either take us forward or backward spiritually, but you will never stay
neutral!” Please pray that this change for me will lead me forward in my walk with Jesus, that I would quickly settle into
a new church and know how to get stuck in and serve.
Psalm 16 calls us to take refuge in God, the psalmist shows that continual focus on God leads to unshakable confidence
in God. We all need to remember this in times of change, be it a big move, a new job or starting a church plant. I am
praying that as we live day by day we will know Jesus’ presence, strength and spirit in us, so that we will keep focussed
on him and be equipped to serve him wherever he leads each of us!
-3-