Mary Chester
1824–1899 (age 75)
Biography
Mary Chester was born in 1824 and spent the fullness of her years in Ashtead, where she was known for her gentle charity and attentive friendship to neighbours near and far. She cultivated a calm kindness that encouraged the young and comforted the elderly, always placing the common good above her own wants.
Her devotion to the Church of St Giles was evident in her regular worship, quiet service, and the gracious hospitality she extended to clergy and congregants alike. Mary’s life remains an example of the steady influence a single person can have on the health and harmony of a parish.