A church warden is eager to “come clean” about his past drug addiction at the Parish of Morden this month.
Jason Armstrong is set to discuss his past drug addiction after becoming warden of a historic church and overseeing a restoration project.
He will speak of his journey from addiction to restoration at 8pm on Saturday, March 5 in the Morden parish hall as part of a week of community events called Life.
Jason is one of several guests that speaker Roger Carswell will interview about their Christian lives, as well as former professional footballer Richard Leadbitter, onetime model Yvonne Edwards, and Major General Tim Cross.
Having tried and failed to give up drugs many times, Jason says he was once in a “very dark place.”
He added: “It felt spiritual.
“I turned up unannounced at the vicarage door of St Lawrence Church.
“David, the Vicar, invited me in and explained the Christian faith.
“And it just made sense.”
12 years ago, Jason employed around 40 people at his local building firm in south London and had what seemed a life of “success”.
But after a party lifestyle and the death of family members, Jason became addicted to cocaine.
Today, he is a church warden with responsibility for restoring the toppled lychgate at St Lawrence Church Morden and he hopes that by telling his story of recovery he will help others.
Jason has been clean for nearly five years now and was recently made warden of the ancient parish church of St Lawrence in Morden, London, which was rebuilt in the 1630s but may date back to Saxon times.
As well as serving the local congregation, one of his important projects as Warden of the Grade I listed site is to help right the old lychgate.
Last summer, a car knocked down the timber entrance way that is often featured in wedding photographs and has two memorial panels inscribed with the names of local World War I soldiers.
The Life evenings are organised by the Parish of Morden as part of a national church initiative involving more than 750 churches called A Passion for Life.
The events aim to help people explore the Christian faith and “a life that lasts” in the run up to Easter.
The events in Morden will be held in person and online from 8pm on February 28 to March 2 in St Martin’s Church and March 3 to 5 in the Parish Hall.
More details can be found here
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