Please find all the latest news from the Diocese of Bristol
News
Lessons from the Peloton
First published 27th July 2016In this lighter summertime piece, Bishop Lee looks at the sport of road cycling to draw some parallels with what is expected of Christian disciples.
Thank Your Vicar Week
First published 27th July 2016Church of England parishes and primary schools are getting Thank Your Vicar Week 16-23 October in the school or parish diary, when they will be celebrating the vital contribution their clergy make to the community.
Statement regarding the tragic events in Rouen
First published 27th July 2016Following the tragic murder of Father Jacques Hamel in Rouen yesterday, the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, and the Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Lee Rayfield, have offered their prayers to the people of France.
Christmas Through the Keyhole
First published 21st July 2016Christmas Through The Keyhole
Church of England Professional Qualification for Headship (CofEPQH)
First published 21st July 2016What is the CofEPQH?
Home sweet home
First published 20th July 2016We spoke to the two newest members of the Property Team to find out more about what they do and why they do it. From traditional rectories to modern vicarages, clergy in the Diocese of Bristol live in a variety of different houses.
Thank Your Vicar Week
First published 19th July 2016Church of England parishes and primary schools are getting Thank Your Vicar Week 16-23 October in the school or parish diary, when they will be celebrating the vital contribution their clergy make to the community.
New approach to Parish Share
First published 19th July 2016Parish Share: take responsibility | be generous | have faith. Next year sees the introduction of our new approach to Parish Share as agreed by Diocesan Synod.
Annual C in the Park service brings churches together
First published 18th July 2016Churches from across Bristol have taken part in an annual open air church service in a Downend park.
A time to speak…
First published 15th July 2016There is no doubt that the events in Nice that have emerged overnight have sickened and horrified the people of this Diocese and the people of this nation.
Response to shared conversations
First published 14th July 2016Following the meeting of General Synod at the beginning of July, members met in an informal setting in which they listened and were heard as they reflected together on scripture and a changing culture in relation to their understanding of human sexuality.
How to report hate crime and abuse
First published 14th July 2016Following the EU referendum vote on 23 June there has sadly been a rise in people reporting stories of hate crime and racist and anti-immigrant abuse, both in Bristol and nationally.
Mossy Church brings families closer to God and nature
First published 14th July 2016Families have been getting back to nature as they celebrated a new church service in the great outdoors.Children and adults from Wroughton Parish Church ventured into Kings Farm Wood on Sunday as they looked to encounter God through the natural world.
Good safeguarding integral to mission of Church
First published 1st July 2016A resource to help local churches do some theological thinking around safeguarding has been published by the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC).
Simply Collective Worship
First published 27th June 2016Simply Collective Worship is a fully planned four year scheme of assemblies and thoughts for the day.
Church of England Vision for Education
First published 27th June 2016Please see the below document produced by The Church of England Education Office and endorsed by members of the House of Bishops.
Time to work together
First published 27th June 2016A message from Bishop Mike following the EU Referendum: Where does one start? In the night (I was in the USA) news came through that the UK had voted for a Brexit.
Exploring your parish's vision
First published 20th June 2016All Saints Clifton has recently gone through a process of exploring its vision and identity.
The Queen's birthday celebrations
First published 20th June 2016Churches across the Diocese of Bristol held parties as they helped to mark the 90th birthday of HM The Queen.
Diocesan Synod Report - May 2016
First published 20th June 2016The Diocesan Synod met on 7 May 2016.
Battling holiday hunger in Bristol
First published 20th June 2016Can you volunteer to combat food poverty in Bristol this summer?
Details of General Synod in July 2016
First published 20th June 2016Members of the General Synod will gather in York on Friday 8 July until Saturday 9 July.
The next step in answering God's call
First published 16th June 2016The summer is an exciting time of transition within the Ministry Development department BAP candidates become ordinands; ordinands become deacons; deacons become priests; formation year students prepare to become Licensed Lay Ministers.
How to develop an action plan
First published 16th June 2016Developing a parish action plan, strategy or vision document is a process designed to help churches to prayerfully consider the mission and ministry that God is calling them to.
Generous Giving Project
First published 16th June 2016A new blog aimed at encouraging more generous giving is being produced by our colleagues in Durham.
Churchwardens commit to Creating Connections
First published 16th June 2016Churchwardens from across the diocese gathered at seven deanery Visitations services during May to celebrate and affirm their ministry and formally take up their offices for another year.
iSingPOP at Ashton Keynes Primary
First published 16th June 2016Children at Ashton Keynes Primary School have put on a special concert for the Bishop of Swindon. The pupils had taken part in the iSingPOP project, which had culminated in two concerts at Holy Cross Church during May.
Learning to live the Whole of Life together
First published 15th June 2016I wasnt blown away by an array of new ideas I have come away thinking, Wow, this is awesome, and I really think we can achieve this!Anita Dobson, from Christ Church Downend, looks back at the first day of the Bristol Learning Hub.
Archbishops respond to Orlando shootings
First published 14th June 2016Archbishops of Canterbury and York have called for solidarity with LGBTI people after the attack in Orlando.
Invitations to Grace
First published 9th June 2016Yesterday afternoon I was due to meet a colleague for coffee. I had rushed from one meeting to the next all morning and arrived on time to find my usually prompt colleague was not there.
Useful apps for smartphones
First published 9th June 2016Modern technology means that there are new ways of deepening our relationship with God. We've put together a number of Christian resources now available for Android and iPhones which we hope people will find useful in their daily walk.
In memory of Bruce McKay
First published 8th June 2016Canon Trevor Denley remembers Bruce McKay, who died last Friday aged 74.Bruce McKay 1941 - 2016.
Bishop's letter: Issues of Image
First published 6th June 2016Some years ago in the USA, I preached a sermon to nine million people! Admittedly all but about 2,000 of those people were listening in on radio.
Finding support for carers
First published 2nd June 2016This year National Carers' Week runs from 6 to 12 June - but unless you happen to be a carer it may well pass you by.
Cathedral celebrates Queen's 90th
First published 31st May 2016Bristol Cathedral will mark the official birthday of HM the Queen with a week of celebrations, including a special Sunday morning service and a Flower Festival.
Opportunities to serve
First published 31st May 2016As we mark the beginning of Volunteer Week, the Rev Simon Jones, Team Rector at St Michael's Stoke Gifford, explains how the church found new ways of encouraging people to serve.Churches love notices!
Youth resource about 'awkward' issues
First published 27th May 2016When looking for bible studies for youth groups the range of resources that cover biblical themes, characters and the basics are pretty much catered for.
Nurturing a resilient faith in children
First published 26th May 2016I've just finished flicking through past editions of Childrenswork magazine and an interview with Rob Parsons (founder of Care for the Family).
We don't believe in ordinary
First published 24th May 2016Creating Connections with God, with each other, and with our communities. What a great vision for us as a diocese. But how can we get better at this?
Accessible confirmation service in Chippenham
First published 19th May 2016Three people have been confirmed at an accessible confirmation service at St Peter's Church, Chippenham.
More salt please!
First published 18th May 2016Last week, I was talking with a candidate about the difficulties he was having with friendships.
Children of Bristol, just like me
First published 18th May 2016Children of Bristol, just like me,is a project that was initially conceived and inspired by PeterOverton, Head teacher at Easton CE Academy in conjunction with Bristol Schools Connection (a charity that is passionate about creating intentional spaces.
Connected conference 2016 videos
First published 18th May 2016Did you miss the Connected conference last month? Do you want to hear what our speakers had to say?
Who are you inviting?
First published 17th May 2016In May we were joined by Michael Harvey from Season of Invitation to help us explore what it looks like to be an invitational church.
HM the Queens 90th Birthday Celebrations
First published 13th May 2016To celebrate HM the Queens 90th birthday every parish church and Church school are being encouraged to organise some sort of celebration or event to mark the occasion.
Connected: 'A sense of purpose and excitement'
First published 12th May 2016Revd Sally Wheeler, area dean for Chippenham and Priest in Charge of Marshfield Benefice, gives her thoughts on the Connected day conference.
Open to everyone
First published 11th May 2016Working closely with groups in your community can open up plenty of new opportunities, as the Revd Lee Barnes at St Stephens Bristol can attest.
More tea and toast, vicar?
First published 11th May 2016Putting the kettle on and eating toast has helped give a group of mums the chance to meet and share together in church
Bristol Diocesan ministry training "sound and secure"
First published 11th May 2016The Licensed Lay Ministry training programme in the Diocese of Bristol has been labelled sound and strategically led in its first annual Periodic External Review (PER).
Inspired by a vision
First published 9th May 2016I recently came across this short TED talk by Simon Sinek entitled How great leaders inspire action.
Sanctuary Marquee at Glastonbury Festival
First published 5th May 2016Glastonbury Festival is one of the iconic summer gatherings known across the world.Millions of people, since it began, have attended the festival and it has grown tremendously over the years. It is one of the most creative places, not just for the mu
Connected: ‘Togetherness in the spirit'
First published 4th May 2016Chris Priddy, Head of Parish and External Relations, on the feedback he has received about the Connected day conference:.
Creating connections: Toolkit
First published 26th April 2016We want every parish to explore what 'Creating connections' looks like in their context.
Bishop Lee helps youngsters mark first communion
First published 25th April 2016Children at St Christopher's in Brislington have celebrated their first communion with help from the Bishop of Swindon.
Bristol foodbanks helped 10,600 people in 2015
First published 19th April 2016Emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis by Bristols Trussell Trust foodbanks (North Bristol Foodbank, Bristol North West Foodbank and East Bristol Foodbank) in 2015-16, new figures have revealed.
Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation
First published 12th April 2016The new 'Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genitalmutilation' document is available to download.
Schools RE Newsletter, Spring 2016
First published 12th April 2016Download and read our newest RE Newsletter.RE Newsletter, Spring 2016.
Mothers' Union 140th celebration
First published 12th April 2016The Mothers' Union is celebrating its 140th Anniversary in 2016 with a special service at Bristol Cathedral.The celebration on Saturday 23 April will see the Bishop of Bristol presiding.
In memory of Canon Richard Saunders
First published 12th April 2016Canon Richard Saunders, who died recently at the age of 99, served some 20 years in the Bristol diocese.He was vicar of Saint Ambrose, Whitehall from 1962-1975 and priest-in-charge of All Hallows, Easton 1965-1968.
A matter of life and death
First published 11th April 2016I read in the paper recently that 2015 was a bumper year for deaths and that life expectancy fell last year for the first time in twenty years.
Godparents' Sunday
First published 5th April 2016The first ever Sunday to celebrate the unique role of godparents will take place on 1 May 2016.
Paradise in the City
First published 4th April 2016Paradise in the City, d, Poland 19-25 July
The Day Today
First published 4th April 2016Being a Christian means more than attending a service at church on Sunday. It is about being how we live out our faith wherever He has placed us, whether it is in the home, in the workplace, at the school gate even in the checkout queue.
Creating connections in Uganda
First published 30th March 2016Bishop Mike Hill has made a number of visits to Uganda over the last 12 months aimed at strengthening our connections with our link dioceses and the province.
Learning to be human
First published 29th March 2016Diane Simms visited the Diocese of Central Uganda in 2015 as part of the City Deanery Uganda Link.
All these things will be given to you
First published 29th March 2016Rev Tina Goede, the German Lutheran Minister in charge of St Annes, Eastville visited Uganda in 2015 with the City Deanery.
The light shines in the darkness
First published 27th March 2016The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Power of Praying for Friends
First published 24th March 2016There's such power in praying for our friends who don't yet know Jesus. Not just doing it once in a while, or when we feel like it, but doing it regularly persevering with discipline, and with joy.
A Season of Invitation
First published 23rd March 2016Sometimes all it takes is a simple act of invitation to change somebody's life.
World in crisis
First published 23rd March 2016It feels as though half the world is on the move in these times: by sea, over land, floating in flimsy vessels or clinging beneath lorries; young and old, of all faiths and none.
Statement from Bishop Mike on Brussels
First published 23rd March 2016A statement from the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, regarding the events in Brussels.
Connected Conference 2016
First published 21st March 2016On 27 April 2016, clergy, ministers and leaders from churches across the Diocese will be exploring what it means to be Connected at a special diocesan day conference event.
Helping prisoners lead meaningful lives
First published 21st March 2016The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
Understanding Addiction and Supporting Recovery
First published 21st March 2016A new course is being run which aims to help train Christians in how to support people recovering from addiction.
Bishop Mike: Europe - In or Out?
First published 21st March 2016The campaign race to the vote on the EU is starting to gather pace. Voters will be given the opportunity to decide whether they are for Europe or against.Immediately there is a problem.
Giving for Life Reignited
First published 21st March 2016The National Stewardship Committee has put together a programme to enable parishes to re-engage with reviewing Stewardship Strategy and adoption of good practice.
Resource Helps Churches to Address Domestic Abuse
First published 17th March 2016One in four women in the UK experience domestic abuse. But few church leaders are aware of the extent of the issue, or what they can do about it.
'Together we can tackle child abuse' campaign
First published 17th March 2016The Diocese of Bristol is backing this campaign run by the Department for Education (DfE).
Ability Sunday 2016
First published 17th March 2016Last year, more than 220 churches took part by running Ability Sunday services. This year, we hope many more churches will take this opportunity to take part in Ability Sunday on 11 September.
St Luke's Easter lunch club
First published 17th March 2016In the school holidays some children are without enough food and suffer from holiday hunger.Church members at St Luke's Church in Barton Hill (east Bristol) are responding to this by providing free hot meals and play time during the Easter break.
Does the Church really receive them with joy?
First published 17th March 2016Anita Dobson, from Christ Church Downend, recently went to the Baptism Matters day. Here she writes her thoughts on the event:We so want to be welcoming to each and every person who comes through the church door.
Choosing a Church School - A Guide for Families
First published 16th March 2016This is a guide, created by St. Peters CofE Primary School, to inform parents what to expect when sending their child to a church school and what they can get out of it.
New School: Ridgeway Farm CE Academy, Wiltshire
First published 15th March 2016The Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust is opening a new primary school for the beginning of September 2016.
Charitable Grants for Churches 2016
First published 14th March 2016There are a number of charitable grants available for churches.
Stuck in Never Never Land?
First published 14th March 2016On 26th February 2016, a rare debate took place in the House of Lords.
Bristol Nightstop helps homeless young people
First published 14th March 2016When young homeless teenagers are desperate for a place to sleep, Susanne Frank has a warm bed for them to use.She is one of a growing number of people opening up their homes to youngsters in need of somewhere to stay.
A journey to Easter Day
First published 3rd March 2016The start of Lent is known as Ash Wednesday and its theme is repentance, a word which conjures up the image of a preacher on the High Street exhorting passers-by to turn from their sins and be saved.
Trinity College principal appointed Chaplain to Queen
First published 23rd February 2016Buckingham Palace has announced that the principal of Trinity College Bristol, the Revd Dr Emma Ineson, has been appointed as a Chaplain to the Queen.
Skate park returns to Malmesbury Abbey
First published 22nd February 2016Hundreds of skateboarders headed to Malmesbury Abbey as it held its eighth annual skate festival.
Bishop's Letter: Holy disruption and the prayer Jesus taught
First published 20th February 2016This month Bishop Lee reminds us that God's Kingdom is often unsettling and messy. If we are going to pray Your Kingdom come in spirit and in truth let us be ready to welcome rather than resist this.
Bishop's Letter: In the Lord's service(s)?
First published 20th February 2016Show me the way your weekend services are going and Ill tell you how your church is going Thus spake Bill Hybels at a recent coaching seminar.
General Synod - February 2016
First published 18th February 2016The General Synod of the Church of England met in Church House, London, from Monday 15 February to Wednesday 17 February.
The Queen's 90th birthday
First published 2nd February 2016This year, the Queen is marking her 90th birthday and churches are being urged to get involved with the celebrations.
Central web resource launched
First published 1st February 2016A website designed to support the occasional offices is available now to all clergy and lay people involved in these important ministries.The Church Support Hub was developed to offer research, free downloads, shared ideas and articles, plus commonly-
Dean's Sermon: After the Primates Meeting
First published 28th January 2016Sermon preached in Bristol Cathedral on Sunday 24th January, 2016 by the Very Revd David Hoyle, Dean of Bristol CathedralLuke 4:14-21Just over a week ago, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, a man called Chris Bryant, left the Church of Englan
Do we really believe in prayer?
First published 27th January 2016On Wednesday 23rd December, I had scheduled into my diary a day of prayer for the work of vocations across the diocese of Bristol.
Church Publishes 2014 Attendance Statistics
First published 18th January 2016New Church of England statistics for 2014 show that just under one million people attend services each week.
Generosity overwhelms following refugee appeal
First published 18th January 2016Generosity has overwhelmed the Church in Westbury Park (St Albans CofE and Westbury Park Methodist) after it put out an appeal last week for warm winter clothing for refugees in Northern Iraq and Syria.
Wroughton Passion Play
First published 18th January 2016The Easter story is coming to Wroughton. Swindon-based theatre company Gatecrash Theatre has joined forces with Wroughton Parish Church and the Bible Society, to put on a new version of the Passion Play.
Bishop's Letter: A season for curiosity, time and courage
First published 18th January 2016As we are invited to make Lent a particular season for prayer across the diocese, Bishop Lee reflects on our struggles to listen to God and how we might grow in our practice of prayer.
