News

Rev’d Dr Janet Anderson-MacKenzie ran the overall distance of a marathon to raise money for the Lidbrook Group of Churches in Wiltshire, of which she is the Priest in Charge.

The role of the Adviser for Lay Ministry is to encourage and develop good practice in all kinds of lay ministry in the Diocese of Bristol.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Rev’d Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Rev’d Melanie Otto will be the new Priest in Charge of the churches of St Agnes and St Anne’s in the heart of Bristol.

The second round of the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage launches on 7 January 2021.

Please note the workshop ‘Show Up. Speak Out. Stand Against!’ has been postponed.

An accessible advent service created by Deaf and disabled people and their families, friends and carers from around the Diocese of Bristol is now available to watch online.

The Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Rev'd Dr Lee Rayfield, is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev'd Mark Nam as the Minority Ethnic Vocations Champion for the Diocese of Bristol.

In December 2020, Pattern Church, one of the Diocese of Bristol's Resourcing Churches, celebrated their second birthday.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Rev’d Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Rev’d Lizzie Kesteven and Rev’d David Stephenson will be the Interim Co-Area Deans for the Bristol City Deanery.

An eco-stable has been built in the church yard at the front of Christ Church Swindon, made with wood from discarded fencing panels and local rubbish sites.

A city-wide online Carol service made by and for the city of Bristol, premiering on Friday 11 December at 7pm.

A Christmas appeal from the Together 4 Fromeside churches has raised over £11,500 to support vulnerable families in eight local primary schools. 

The Bishop of Bristol is pleased to announce that Revd Trudie Wigley has been appointed Area Dean of Swindon.

Diocesan Synod met on 14 November 2020 to review the impact of Creating connections, approve the 2021 budget and prepare for the future.

Christmas services are going to be looking different this year, but there is still comfort and joy to be found.

This years’ Remembrance Day looked different across Bristol Diocese, and one parish decided to line the path to their church with painted pebbles.

The appeal has so far raised almost £10,000 for Ugandan clergy. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far.

Over the course of this year of lockdowns, mental health needs have increased. Across the Diocese, churches have come together to provide resources and to address this need.

The Diocese of Bristol and Bristol Cathedral are running an online Advent retreat on Saturday, 28 November 2020, starting at 10am. The theme is “I look from afar: Where and how do we find comfort and joy in a strange land?”

The Diocese of Bristol is excited to announce that it has been awarded  two awards as an Eco Diocese— Silver for its operations, and Bronze in recognition of its wider engagement— from the national environmental charity A Rocha.

The Revd Aggy Palairet, curate at St Mary Redcliffe Church, writes about her experiences of race and ministry.

The Church of England has published a landmark set of resources drawing together the Bible, theology, science and history.

The Diocese of Bristol is about to embark on a twelve-month review of our vision and priorities, seeking what Christ is calling us to be and to do in the coming years.

From today, Thursday 5 November, Bristol Cathedral will ring a bell at 6pm every evening as a call to prayer for the city.

The Bishop of Bristol announced a new focus of work for the upcoming months, to shape the future of the Diocese of Bristol.

Papers for the Diocesan Synod meeting to be held on Zoom on 14 November 2020

News and event booking links for churchwarden events in November 2020

The Revd Anjali Kanagaratnam writes about her experiences of race and ministry.

Seven new lay ministers were licensed in Bristol Cathedral on Saturday 17 October.

The Right Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, ordained 13 new priests over four services in Bristol Cathedral on Saturday 10 October.

Artists and creatives from Bristol and surrounding areas have been meeting virtually since April to share their experiences of lockdown.

On 17 October, the Diocese of Bristol is licensing seven new Licensed Lay Ministers in a socially distanced service at Bristol Cathedral.

Celebrating the ministry of the church in 2020.

New app launched to encourage young people to explore the Bible in new ways.

Education Newsletter October 2020

Almost 450 heritage organisations in England, including St. Andrew’s Church have been awarded cash from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.

The Right Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, ordained 10 new deacons over four services in Bristol Cathedral on Sunday 11 October.

During eight services in Bristol Cathedral over the coming weekend, the Bishop of Bristol and the Bishop of Swindon will ordain 23 candidates as priests and deacons.

The Bishops are appealing for help to support clergy families in Uganda 2020 with food and vital supplies this Christmas.

Mark Nam, Assistant-Curate at St. Anne’s in Oldland and United Church in Longwell Green, will be ordained as a Deacon on Sunday 11th October in Bristol Cathedral.

On Saturday 3 October at 3.30pm, the Revd Dr Mandy Ford will be instituted and installed as the 43rd Dean of Bristol.

St Martin’s Church, Knowle is now running the food bank set up by Knowle Park Primary school at the start of lockdown.

Pattern Church celebrated their first live worship services in the building on Sunday 20 September 2020.

During lockdown, residents in Slaughterford started a village vegetable box, raising money for St Nicholas Church, after teaming together to create thriving allotments.

You are probably aware that there are a number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (“BAME”) clergy in Bristol Diocese. If, however, I was to ask you to identify some of them, you might struggle.

Pattern Church is a new church in the historic Great Western Railways Pattern Store building in the centre of Swindon.

The planned Church Action in a Climate Emergency conference fell into the beginning of lockdown. But now it’s moving online as a ‘deconstructed’ conference throughout late October & early November. 

We are now over half way through the Season of Creation, and many churches have planned services focusing on God’s creation and our shared environment.

Parliament returned from recess this week and met on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 September.

Ben Lindsay, author of We Need To Talk About Race comes to the Cathedral in October for a series of workshops with church leaders in the Diocese of Bristol.

This September, the Bristol Mothers Union (MU) is inviting members of the Diocese of Bristol to join them in three days of prayer.

Over 40 churches in the Diocese of Bristol are excited to join with 90 churches in Salisbury in this years Wiltshire Ride+Stride.

Holy Trinity, Stapleton was been awarded a £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant to help fund roof repairs in their Grade II listed building.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to appoint Revd Kat Campion-Spall as Dean of Women’s Ministry.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Revd Mary Gubbins has been appointed to the post of part-time SSM (Self-Supporting Minister) Team Vicar in the Greater Corsham and Lacock Team.

The ‘Friendly Stage Mini Festival’ is a miniature Greenbelt-like event over three days, on the theme of ‘A Better World is Possible’.

There is an opportunity for someone to represent the Diocese in the General Synod for one year.

Diocese of Bristol learning event for clergy and church leadership.

Across the region, churches have been holding services outside in a variety of places.

St Mary’s Marshfield is working towards an Eco Church award, as they thoughtfully extend their Christian stewardship activities to care for the planet and for each other.

While the church has been closed during the coronavirus lockdown, members of St Peter’s Henleaze have taken the opportunity to transform their church grounds into a more welcoming environment for wildlife and neighbours alike. 

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Revd Canon Dr Rod Symmons has been appointed as Interim Minister for the Bradley Stoke Parish.

It was announced yesterday that the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull has been appointed a deputy lead bishop for safeguarding.

St Michael’s Church, Stoke Gifford, teamed up with Sainsbury’s East Filton, to put on a drive-in church service on Sunday 26 July.

This September marks the Season of Creation. A wonderful opportunity for us all to pay special attention to the responsibility of humanity for the earth and for all that lives upon it.

The coronavirus outbreak has changed daily life for us all. This article gives 5 top tips to help us consider our environmental impact at this time. 

On Friday 24 July, a film clip of the Rev Hazel Trapnell’s garden was featured on BBC Gardeners World.

On 12 July, members from local churches hosted a virtual afternoon tea and prayer event.

Yesterday in the House of Lords, the Lord Bishop of Bristol asked the government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human trafficking.

The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull has appointed Revd Dr Catherine Okoronkwo to the position of Bishop’s Advisor on Racial Justice.

Goodness and Mercy, the new website and resources aimed primarily at Church of England Schools, is launching this week.

An address from Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol and Oliver Home, Diocesan Secretary

Last night, Bishop Viv addressed Diocesan Synod, reflecting on the last three months in lockdown.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Revd Steve Dyson has been appointed as Associate Vicar in the Kingswood and Hanham Team Ministry.

Bishop Lee discusses how journaling can enable us to reflect on our past and guide our future.

Sophie Mitchell, a member of General Synod, reflects on Saturday's Synod, conducted over Zoom!

On Saturday 4 July two couples in the Diocese of Bristol were among the first couples to celebrate their wedding day since lockdown.

Bishop Lee reflects on how God has been at work during the lockdown.

The Right Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, licensened ten ordinands as Lay Workers on Sunday 5 July.

The Right Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, will license ten ordinands this Sunday 5 July, via Zoom.

Bishop Lee reflects on the impact that his cycling accident had on his wellbeing.

SoulScaping is an art led practise that enables you to hone three incredible God Given gifts.

Church online has presented us with a number of new opportunities, and some technological challenges.

A message from Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, about racial justice and the work to be done.

In my last piece – Sacred Space – I said I would write more about the significance of an app and the radio in journeying through a prolonged confinement.

I am not sure whether finding or going to your personal ‘happy place’ was referred to often before the Lockdown, but I have certainly become more conscious of it in recent days.

Green Christian have launched a new discipleship resource to help Christians consider the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world from a fresh perspective.

It's Your Move is a hugely impactful book brimming with advice, activities and real-life testimonies produced by Scripture Union. Over 1.6 million children moving to secondary school have received It’s Your Move, supporting them through that move. 

As Lockdown eases we begin look to a future where churches services will once again be able to take place, in one form or another, within our church buildings.

On Saturday 6 June, Braydon Brook Benefice had its first ever Zoom Pet Service. The idea was formed, posters created, zoom invites sent.

In Avonmouth, a local church group has been awarded £125,000 in community grants for an aspirational woodworking workshop “Space4Makers” and a store room to expand its Foodbank and HomeBank service.

Will you join thousands across the UK and speak to your MP on Tuesday 30 June as part of the first ever 'virtual lobby' created by the Climate Coalition.

Work was carried out yesterday to remove a number of prominent references to Edward Colston in the windows of Bristol Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe Church.

Individuals and churches can now be led in prayer by Bishop Viv as we continue to respond to the challenges our society faces. Recorded at Diocesan Synod, June 2020.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Rev’d Adam Beaumont has been appointed as Rector of Gauzebrook.

Social distancing options for fun days and community prayer spaces.

A personal response to #BlackLivesMatter by Revd Dr Catherine Okoronkwo.

Statement from the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol in response to the #BlackLivesMatter protests in Bristol.

Rev Malcolm Strange goes on a prayer walk around Fromeside

Faith at Home is a national campaign that builds on the work of Growing Faith and Everyday Faith to support the faith development and pastoral care of children and young people.