Ex-garrison church to become a new parish in 2025

St Barbara's in Deepcut will become the first new Church of England parish in Surrey in the 21st Century

A church built for the garrison of a town in Surrey is to become the centre of the county's first new Church of England parish in the 21st Century.

St Barbara's in Deepcut will cater to those living in the 1,200-home development planned for the former army base.

Parish status will allow the church to carry out weddings, funerals and baptisms.

With the Grade II listed St Barbara's in need of extensive renovation, members of the parish have been working out of other public buildings.

A baby and toddler group has been held in a care home and and a weekly coffee morning in a pub, where vicar Daniel Natnael also has his office.

The church has also provided activities, advice and clothing to asylum-seekers housed in a nearby hotel.

Rev Natnael said: "Because we didn't have a permanent church building, we had to think outside the box and look for ways to bring the church into the community.

"Our key mission has always been to be a Christ-centred, mission-shaped, visible and accessible church open to all.

"Jesus didn't expect people to come to him, he went to them to preach the good news. We have an active congregation which has increased from 20 to 100 and includes people of all ages and backgrounds."

'Passionate and outward-looking'

The Bishop of Guildford Andrew Watson said: "I have been so excited to see the new congregation take root in Deepcut, and to witness the gifts and diversity of the Church that is emerging under Daniel's expert leadership.

"It's somewhat unusual to create a new parish in the Church of England in the 2020s, and a testimony to the work of some passionate and outward-looking believers who are an inspiration to us all."

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