On Sunday 6 February, St Saviours Coalpit Heath was welcomed into the Fromeside Benefice of Churches with a special Candlemas service, as part of their induction to the Yate and Fromeside Mission Area.
The service, held at St Michael’s, Winterbourne, celebrated Revd Malcom Strange’s induction as rector of the mission area, and was presided at by the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol.
Revd Malcom Strange, Rector of the Fromeside Benefice of Churches, said: “This is fantastic news for us all and offers us a wonderful opportunity to work together, giving each other tangible support as churches, better enabling us to make the Kingdom of God real for the people of the Fromeside area.”
Revd Ian Wallace, Team Rector in Yate Parish, said: “I am hoping that the addition of Coalpit Heath will give the mission area new impetus and energy following on from the dampener of the pandemic. It also presents new opportunities for wider missional engagement.”
Revd Dave Jones is to be the Acting Associate Minister with Pastoral and Missional Responsibility for St Saviours Coalpit Heath, and he will also retain this role at St James, Iron Acton. The benefice office will oversee the administration for all five parishes.
This comes after Coalpit Heath PCC voted in favour of joining the Yate and Fromeside Mission Area in September 2021.
A formal appointment of an Associate Minister with Pastoral and Missional Responsibility for St Saviours Coalpit Heath, who will also be Mission Area Discipleship Missioner (half time working in Yate) is hoped to happen by summer 2022. This minister will live in the vicarage at Coalpit Heath.
Images: (1) Bishop Viv with Revd Malcom; (2) St Michael's Winterbourne altar. Credit Martin Gainsborough.