News

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.

An introduction to Mission Areas featuring the Yate and Fromeside Mission Area.

Happy Christmas from the Diocesan Support Services team!

Image by Pete WilsonChurches in Swindon have been working together to put on a three-week Christmas fair.With this year marking the 50th anniversary of the Old Town partnership of churches.

Christmas is a time of giving - but it can also be a time of waste. From the plastic packaging to the piles of wrapping paper and wasted food filling our dustbins, festivities can have an unseen impact on our environment. 

Children will be blasting off for Christmas when an astronaut brings good news to a Swindon church service.

Children at St Helen's CE Primary School have been making their voices heard as they raised awareness of the Climate Emergency.

With dragons, talking carrots, and even a surprise comeback for ET all vying for centre stage in the annual festive advertising bonanza.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Will Fairbairn has been appointed vicar of Redland Church in Bristol.Will has been curate of Ascension Church in Southampton since 2017. Prior to that he spent three years at

Revd Dr Cathy Okoronkwo, who was appointed Vicar of All Saints and St Barnabas, Swindon in September, recently represented the Diocese at the CMEAC DLP/MEAC Officers residential conference.

Coordinated by the Bishop of Bristols OfficeAs faith leaders in the city of Bristol, we are proud of this beautiful, diverse and creative city.

Promote Christmas services without the hassle this Christmas…Premier Digital Award winners Go Chatter have launched a new customisable video website.

Going green proved the inspiration for members of St Martin's in Knowle when it came time to decorate the church building for Christmas. Clare Hensmen tells us how they came up with the idea - and how other churches could easily do something similar:

Swindons newest Anglican church turned one this week. Having launched at the start of December 2018, Pattern Church celebrated its first birthday on Sunday 1 December, with two services at 10am and 4:30pm at the Platform on Faringdon Road.

Remember to update your A Church Near You pages with your Advent and Christmas services and events! A Church Near You receives more than 12 million page views each year and 81 per cent of people who come to the site are first-time visitors.

Today is Black Friday that moment in the year when shops and websites offer huge savings as they attempt to tempt customers into spending their money.

Englands cathedrals have witnessed their highest Easter congregation numbers in recent years, while visitor numbers increased by a million on the previous year, statistics published today show.Bristol Cathedral has followed the trend seeing more peop

This year's Diocesan Education Conference took place in November. The day was enjoyed by school leaders: headteachers, senior leaders, clergy and church workers who engage with young people and schools.

Four churches across the Diocese have received our first Eco Church awards.

As a head teacher, you may expect any number of questions from parents when you launch a new school uniform but does it crinkle? is a rather unusual one! Yet at The Deanery CE Academy in Swindon its a fair question to ask, as the uniforms are partly

When the vote was passed unanimously, the room filled with cheers, applause and even a whistle or two.

And God blessed them...I wonder what you think blessing someone or something means or achieves (and Bishops do lots of blessings of people and of things, in my early experience particularly of loos)?

Prayer is an amazing gift which strengthens our relationship with God; it has the power to change us and the world around us.

In this stewardship update; FREE Church Fundraising Guide, an updated Diocesan grants guide, a new parish giving scheme resource and contactless giving deals.Church Fundraising Handbook.

In late May Pattern Church in Swindon was awarded a significant Allchurches Trust grant for which the church and the Diocese is extremely grateful.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is pleased to announce that Becky Waring has been appointed Area Dean of Bristol South. Becky has the been vicar of St Martins Knowle since 2016. Previous to her ministry at St Martins, Becky was a Lice

Please click the link below to download the second Diocesan Board of Education newsletter of the year.

To fulfil our call to proclaim afresh the Good News in each generation, the Diocese has, through its 'Creating connections' vision prioritised reconnecting with children and teenagers, young adults and families.

A third of children and young people don't know that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, let alone the extraordinary significance that this has for their lives.

Across the Diocese acts of remembrance took place on Remembrance Sunday as those who serve and have fallen to protect our democratic rights are remembered. Thousands joined services across at churches right across our region to participate.

When a much valued Rector leaves a group of 8 rural parishes to move on to be an Archdeacon there is a temptation to feel things are never going to be as good again. But of course that is not the case.When Revd Christopher Bryan left the Gauzebrook P

In 2018, as part of the Statistics for Mission returns, parishes across the country were asked whether they had run any enquiry or Christian basics courses that year.

Who will you nominate for a 2020 DAC Award?Each year the DAC recognises a number of projects via its awards scheme.

Christ Church Infants School and Christ Church Downend have been working together, welcoming each other to their premises and sharing events for many years.

Do churches know the number of visitors that pass through their doors?

A range of events linked to our support of Dementia Friendly Church are running this November.

The Church of Englands Environmental Advisory Group has called for all parts of the Church to recognise the Climate Crisis and step up its action to safeguard God's creation.

Mothers Union has gone into partnership with The Clewer Initiative to support the tackling of Modern Day Slavery. (The Clewer Initiative is the Church of England's response to Modern Day Slavery).

Written by Aura Hart, Mothers Union Diocesan PresidentAs part of the Uganda 50 celebration, we who are members of the Mothers Union in the Diocese of Bristol were delighted to have the opportunity to meet up with fellow members from Uganda they were

#FollowTheStar 2019Follow the Star invites you to experience the wonder and excitement of the Wise Mens journey as they travel towards Jesus.

As we begin to focus on Christmas preparations, perhaps we might also begin to consider how we might engage with those we meet at Christmas services, when the New Year arrives.

Stimulated by the Avonside Mission Area, members of St Marys Stoke Bishop, St Marys Shirehampton, St Edyths Sea Mills, St Peters Lawrence Weston and St Andrews Avonmouth have all been encouraged to form missional communities.

Members of Avonside Mission Area gathered for a prayer celebration on Wednesday 16 October.There were 75 people present who followed the 4Ws of the Mission Area.

In February, Avonside Mission Area started a weekly Tuesday morning prayer meeting. This forms part of their Evangelism Mission Shaped Community, hosted by Revd Hartmut Kopsch.

During September, the parish of Wroughton and Wichelstowe joined churches around the country in celebrating the Season of Creation, with teaching and liturgy designed to help explore the diversity and wonder of God's creation.

During debate on the Queens Speech on Thursday 17 October, the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, made her first speech in the House of Lords.

Just 50% of children growing up in Christian homes will keep their faith as adults.'Raising Faith Inspire' is an easy-to-run 90minute small group discussion to facilitate parents thinking about how to build faith in their children.

Bishop Viv has chosen Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio as the Diocesan Lent book for 2020. This forms part of a Church of England Lent campaign. Churches are encouraged to use the resources for their Lent courses and the spiritual and practical act

As part of their recent visit to the Diocese, two Ugandan Bishops joined a timely conversation on the climate crisis at Cotham Parish Church.

Our annual training event for all Churchwardens, PCC Secretaries, PCC Treasurers, Parish Administrators and other such roles is took place on the morning of Saturday 12 October.

At Connected 2019 this year, we focused on the key themes outlined within Growing Faith - a vision set out by the House of Bishops. 

One of the glories of the Church of England is its liturgical worship and the patterns, forms and words through which public worship is conducted.

The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is delighted to announce the appointment of Revd Canon Michael Johnson as the Acting Dean of Bristol Cathedral. It follows the appointment of Very Revd David Hoyle to the Dean of Westminster.

The Will Aid 2019 scheme is now live - so book now to get your will written. There are hundreds of Will Aid solicitors taking bookings up and down the country.

When we talk about disability and access we often immediately jump to thinking about ramps and accessible toilets. Creating a physically accessible building is of course important but access and inclusion for all involves much more.

The Diocesan Synod meets at the Deanery CE Academy on Saturday 16 November between 9.30am and 3pm. The Synod will be full of discussion and debate.

On Sunday 13 October, churches across the Diocese will be hosting CAP Sunday: a special service to invite people to look again at poverty in their community.

Disability: Access, Inclusion and Participation - Developing Accessibility in the Local ChurchThursday 24 September 7.30pm to 9.00pm at Central (formerly PipnJay).

Stewardship is offering a free dial-in session is packed with all the latest news and advice, especially for church treasurers. The session, takes place on Wednesday 16 October at 1pm.

Ven Neil Warwick was collated and installed as the new Archbishop of Bristol at a service in Bristol Cathedral earlier this month.Neil, who took up the post in the summer, was joined by colleagues, friends and family.

Our annual training event for all Churchwardens, PCC Secretaries, PCC Treasurers, Parish Administrators and other such roles is taking place on the morning of Saturday 12 October at Sheldon School, Chippenham. 

Connected conference 2019. Tuesday 8 October 2019. Connected is a day to equip and encourage ministers, leaders and those who serve in parishes across the Diocese of Bristol.

This year's LLM Licensing Service takes place at Bristol Cathedral on Saturday 21 September at 10.30am. This is a joyful occasion to which candidates are encouraged to invite their family and friends and members of their local church.

The story of the Orchard is a gift to small congregations who are seeking to serve God while wondering how to navigate the challenges of diminishing resources. It is designed to be used by small groups and to encourage the growth of faith.