Reverend Carol Monk (Curate)

My name is Carol Monk and I joined the Parish in July 2011, as Curate and in October 2017 I was Licenced to St. Peter’s as Associate Priest.  I’m very familiar to the area as a whole as I live in Aldershot with my husband John.  I also help out from time to time as ‘On Call’ Chaplain to the Frimley Park Hospital Chaplaincy Team. 

I am what the ‘Church’ calls an SSM (Self Supporting Minister), which means exactly that – I’m not paid for my ministry, but support myself, and until very recently worked three days a week for a local Christian Charity, CWR, who are based at Waverley Abbey House in Farnham, where I had been since 2002.

Parish life are part of my ‘calling’ and it  is a real privilege to preside at weddings, baptism and funerals as well as the regular Sunday Services.  I am particularly drawn to the area of pastoral ministry, which I find can be the most rewarding, and the most challenging!  At St. Peter’s we also have a ministry of healing and this too is something that is close to my heart. 

You can’t be a Parish Priest if you don’t like people, and I can truly say that one of the enjoyable parts of my ministry is meeting people from all walks of life and being able to share in those important occasions such as their, or their child’s Baptism, when they are getting married, and there is nothing more humbling than being able to walk alongside someone when they have been bereaved or are perhaps facing a difficult time in their lives.

When not working in the Parish, I like to spend time pottering around the garden, but nothing gives me more pleasure than to have a gathering of family and friends in the house for a meal or in the garden for a BBQ (weather permitting!).

I know that God has called me to be here at St. Peter’s and I consider it a real privilege to be able to serve Him and the people of Ash.