Buildings & Grounds
Church of the Ascension is located in a suburban neighborhood near downtown Silver Spring. The buildings and grounds are contained in a compact footprint, combining a picturesque setting with modern facilities. Their features, amenities, and spaces of varying sizes and natures offer opportunities for many different kinds of experiences.
Our Sanctuary Building
Originally constructed in 1930, and renovated to some extent in 2000-2001, the Sanctuary Building is an inviting structure with a capacity to seat 225. In 2009, the Sanctuary was again renovated to install hardwood floors, move the Altar Table and communion rails, replace choir pews with chairs, and improve accessibility to the Sanctuary and Parish Hall. The Sanctuary is available as a recital and concert hall and is rented for these purposes by a number of local musicians.
Among the many artistic features of the Sanctuary Building is the medallion over the entrance, with its three trefoils, and the intricate carving on the front porch roof. The theme of the stained glass windows was chosen by the Rev. W. Robert Miller, rector from 1949-1957, and they were installed from 1960 to 1970, mostly funded by parishioners. The booklet “God in Light” describes each window in detail.
Connecting the Sanctuary to the Parish Hall is the Gathering Space, which serves as a crossroads of parish activity on Sundays.
Our Parish Hall Building
Built in 1954, the Parish Hall is reached through an entrance on the east (right) side of the Sanctuary Building that leads through the Gathering Space. With windows on two sides, it is a light-filled space, and its seating capacity is 102 with tables and chairs. Larger groups meet here and Coffee Hour is here each Sunday after the 10 a.m. service. In 1999, the Parish Hall underwent major renovation to improve accessibility, and in 2020, a large screen TV was installed on the north wall for livestreaming. Adjoining this room is the kitchen, with modern appliances.
The lower level of the Parish Hall Building opens out onto Silver Spring Avenue, where the Little Free Pantry is located. Just inside the door is the Choir Room, and along the hall on either side are the Sunday school and nursery rooms. Storage for Tommy’s Pantry, from which food parcels are distributed on the first and third Saturdays of each month, is also located in this area.
The Parish Hall and Sunday school rooms are available for rental and are currently used by an Ethiopian worship group, a home school group, a singing group, and a Girl Scout group as well as for many private one-time receptions and other events. It certainly reflects well on our facilities that many renters return year after year.
Ascension House
Built in 1949 as the Church Rectory, Ascension House is located on the Silver Spring Avenue side of the property. Its upper level is currently used for clergy offices, and the lower level is used for administrative purposes and meeting space. The kitchen and dining room allow for preparation and serving of meals and snacks to small groups.
Our Church Grounds
St. Clare Chapel, located on the west (left) side yard, was built in 2015. This is where 9 am services are held in the summer. A labyrinth was installed and dedicated in 2018 and is located on the west side yard just beyond St. Clare Chapel, near Ascension House.
St. Francis Memorial Garden, located outside the Parish Hall, provides a quiet place for reflection, with seating on a stone bench and flowers blooming in season. Our trees, shrubs and garden flowers are native plants, all cared for by dedicated volunteer parishioners.
A columbarium was constructed in this garden in 2015 and dedicated in May 2016. When all spaces had been reserved, a second columbarium was constructed indoors in 2022 – 2023 and dedicated in June 2024. It is located near the outdoor columbarium, just inside the door at the top of the accessibility ramp leading to the Sanctuary.
In front of the Sanctuary Building is a large grassy area, where a brightly-colored digital scrolling sign was installed in 2020. It identifies the church and informs the community of regular and periodic services, and it also shows special events that the community might wish to attend. To its right is the original stone sign, along with a Little Free Library.
Amenities
Accessibility needs are met by using two safe and convenient routes:
The first is via a ramp located up a short walkway on the west (left) side of the circular driveway, which leads into the Sanctuary/Gathering Space/Parish Hall. Ushers are available to help with seating at services. [INSERT IMG-3364]- The second is via the Silver Spring Avenue entrance, where the ground-level hallway leads past the Choir Room and Sunday School classrooms to the elevator up to the Gathering Space/Sanctuary/Parish Hall.
Also, the bathrooms located adjacent to the Gathering Space are accessible, and there are bathrooms on the lower level as well. Throughout the buildings and grounds, signs indicate where these various access points are to be found.
Parking is available in the circular driveway in front of the Sanctuary Building; on Sunday mornings this area is intended for the use of those with mobility concerns. On-street parking is available in the neighborhood, and the lots of the East Silver Spring Elementary School can be used on weeknights and weekends
Wi-Fi is available in the Sanctuary, Parish Hall and Ascension House.
Looking Ahead
Future capital projects are expected to include: repair or replacement of concrete walkways, modification of the semi-circle driveway curb, installing an HVAC unit and new flooring in the Sacristy, improvement to the acoustics in the Parish Hall, addressing the flooring in upstairs & lower level of parish hall, and repair or replacement of the slate roof on the parish hall.
