The Diocese of Bristol is pleased to share that the Revd Matt Southcombe has been licensed as Vicar in the benefice of Christ Church with Emmanuel Clifton.
Revd Matt was licensed by The Rt Revd Neil Warwick, Acting Bishop of Bristol and Bishop of Swindon, at Christ Church Clifton, on Tuesday, 3 March.
After spending several years working as a professional musician, Matt trained for ordained ministry at St Mellitus College in London.
In 2018, he and his family moved to Bristol as part of a team from Holy Trinity Brompton to help reopen St Nicholas Church in the Old City. Since then, Matt has worked closely with churches across the city and wider Diocese, helping to build strong partnerships. A highlight of this was the Beer and Carols event held in collaboration with Bristol Cathedral, which saw around 2,000 people last Christmas singing carols on College Green.
Speaking about his new role, Matt said:
“As a family, we are thrilled to be here and have felt such a warm welcome from the church community in Clifton. We’re excited about all that God has in store as we invite people to follow Jesus. These are not ordinary days. We’re living through turbulent times, yet we’re seeing more and more people searching for faith, encountering Jesus, and having their lives transformed by the power of the gospel. We are expectant for what the Lord, by His Spirit, is doing in our nation today, and we continue to seek Him as we respond to the calling He has placed on each of our lives.”
We give thanks for Matt and pray for his flourishing in the coming months as he serves and shares the love of God in Clifton.