News

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.

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of Canon Dr Mandy Ford as the new Dean of Bristol.

As lockdown continues and church services continue take place online, new services to support parishes in continuing to encourage generosity are having a significant and positive impact.

New research shows that young families with children under five could be a vital element for church growth. 

To support 'Life groups' in his benefice, Revd Mark Terry has produced 10 sessions titled 'Faith without walls'.

For such a time as this, Roger has successfully built on the contribution of our rich liturgy. 

Bishop Viv explores what impact Covid 19 might have on the diocese, the church and the future. This was originally written for a Bishop’s Council meeting on Thursday 7 May.

On Sunday 10 May, the Bishop of Swindon began a 120 mile cycle ride that he will complete over this Christian Aid Week 10 - 16 May 2020.

Due to Covid-19 Thy Kingdom Come is going to look slightly different this year, but we are still uniting, across the globe to pray 'Thy Kingdom Come'

If you’ve wondered what the size of your church's energy footprint might be, help is now at hand. The Church of England has launched a new, simple tool to measure the amount of carbon produced annually by heating and lighting your church buildings.

The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Sue Gent.

While our church buildings are closed, it's more important than ever to offer people different ways to give money to support the church. 

One aspect of Covid-19 that is in almost every news bulletin is the financial impact that it will have, what should you do?

The coronavirus outbreak has changed daily life for us all. Some of us are serving as frontline keyworkers, others are still travelling to and from work whilst maintaining social distancing.

his message from Bishop Lee was broadcast on Easter Sunday 2020 on BBC Radio Wilts.

With Easter this weekend, YourNeighbour.org wants to get the message far and wide that the Church is here for the nation.

Archdeacon of Bristol, The Venerable Neil Warwick offers a messages for Palm Sunday and a call for us all to reconnect with God.

Your church has been given a Church Fundraising Handbook, but is it gathering dust on a shelf?

Tap Twinning: A Tearfund campaign to Stop The Spread of Coronavirus

There are a range of new and existing Christian resources available for people to engage with at this difficult and challenging time in the life of the nation and the world.

Candles have been burning in windows across the Diocese as Christians pray for all those affected by the Coronavirus.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Revd Elveen Mead has been appointed vicar of Stratton.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night, it is imperative that for the health of the nation and in order for the National Health Service itself to manage the increase in those requiring medical help.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Revd Canon Raymond Adams has been appointed Acting Area Dean of Swindon, effective from 1 April.

Churches are stepping up to help thousands of worshippers and the many others who looking for spiritual, practical and emotional support as they face the challenge of the coronavirus.

Church leaders in Britain and Ireland have called on Christians to take part in a National Day of Prayer and Action about Coronavirus on Sunday 22 March.

While out cycling in January, Rt Revd Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon, came off his bike after hitting a patch of black ice.

Representatives of different faiths in Bristol - including the Anglican Church - have launched a Faith Manifesto that shares five goals that they believe will contribute to the future well-being of the city.

We appreciate that there has been growing concern within the Diocese about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Five congregations in North Wiltshire have taken on a challenge to go green this Lent.

Our grateful thanks for your church gift of Parish Share in 2019

A Bristol church has been finding ways of cutting its carbon footprint with an Energy Audit of its building.

41% of practising Christians say that a spiritual experience or an experience of the love of Jesus was a key influence in their coming to faith – so if we help more people to experience God’s love and presence, more of them will come to know him for themselves.

Hosted by North Wiltshire Deanery Tuesday 24 March 10.am to 2.30pm at St Mary’s Hullavington.

At the end of January 2020, Langley Fitzurse Church of England School, near Chippenham, held a Ghana Day to raise money for the young woman they sponsor. It was bit different from the usual cake sale!

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that as part of the re-shaping of the Ministry Development Team, Revd Dr Rod Symmons is to take the role of Adviser for Curacy.

The Church of England’s General Synod has set new targets for all parts of the church to work to become carbon ‘net zero’ by 2030.

Reaching out to the community can mean different things in different contexts. Fr Charles Sutton, Vicar at All Saints Clifton, reflects on how the church is offering the Christian message to the shops and businesses in Clifton.

A Bristol church is bringing together a group of four Christians to experience a modern monastic lifestyle in the city.

St Andrews Church Castle Combe has recently started using the Goodbox Core to help it fundraise through contactless giving. Michael Constable, treasurer at the church, reflects on its impact.

On Tuesdays in Lent, the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, will offer a series of reflections at Bristol Cathedral on the climate crisis, drawing on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2020 Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio.

While out cycling in January, Rt Revd Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon, came off his bike after hitting a patch of black ice, and needed a five hour operation on his leg and now faces the slow process of recovery. He shares his experience and reflects on how God is speaking to him through the accident.

In his new book ‘invitation to heal’, Michael Harvey considers the scientific links between the act of invitation and healing, drawing from Luke 9 where Jesus sends the disciples out to preach the Good News and to heal.

Light the Night is a beautiful and uniquely peaceful way to honour the memory of loved ones. Light the Night launched in Bristol in 2019 with thousands of candles lit up in St Pauls Graveyard, Bedminster.

Synod report from March 2020

A day conference to support churches in taking further action to care for our shared environment.

One of the ways B+A Church in Bristol gathers together is through its Little Churches. These are communities of people that meet throughout the week on different days in the church, homes, pubs and other venues across Bristol.

Neighbourly is an online platform connecting businesses with causes. This generally looks like donations of food surplus, volunteer teams going out for a day to join a project, and sometimes funding.

As it comes up to the end of the financial year, now is a good time to review Gift Aid, and to make sure that your congregation are making the most of this opportunity.

Safeguarding in the Church of England has changed considerably in recent years, and is likely to continue changing in the foreseeable future.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce the appointment of Fr Toby Boutle as the priest-in-charge of the parish of Swindon New Town.

This years focus is on the Environment. Get your copy of the Archbishop of Canterburys Lent book (with accompanying videos and group questions), as well as corresponding booklets with reflections for both adults and children.

We are so excited about Thy Kingdom Come 2020! Between 21 May and 31 May 2020, millions of Christians worldwide will unite in praying that more people would come to know the amazing love of Christ.

Amplify is a partnership between; Hope Together, The Message, Youth For Christ, Pais Movement, Church Of England, Scripture Union, Alpha, Luis Palau, Redeemed Christian Church Of God and the Evangelical Alliance.

Over the last two nights, BBC2 broadcast Exposed: The Church's Darkest Secret, which looked at the sexual abuse carried out by the former Bishop of Gloucester, Peter Ball, and the attempts to bring him to justice.

Please click the link below to download the latest Diocesan Board of Education newsletter for Term 3 (2019/20).The newsletter is for heads, teachers, governors, church school workers, clergy and anyone else who may benefit.

This Christmas message was originally given as at the Christmas Day Eucharist at Bristol Cathedral 2019.

The Parish Giving Scheme is growing across the Diocese with 66 churches and just under 1,100 donors now using the scheme.

Members of the Avonside Evangelism Group took to standing at a train station to invite commuters to Christmas services recently. Revd John Monaghan, vicar of St Edyth's, Sea Mills, reflects on their efforts.

AYF Uganda Choir is returning to the Diocese of Bristol in the New Year for a concert at St Barnabas Church in Swindon.