The Journey - theatrical telling of the Christmas story
First published 22nd December 2018On the 9 December, people from across Swindon gathered for two performances of an immense, immersive theatrical telling of the Christmas story.
News
Church looking for groups to develop community hub in Bristol
First published 5th December 2018Organisations and charities are being invited by a Bristol church put forward ideas of how it can develop a hub for the city.Members of St Stephen's Church's PCC want to hear from groups who would be interested in forming a partnership with them
Celebration to mark launch of new Swindon church
First published 28th November 2018Community and church leaders will celebrate the launch of a new church for Swindon this week.The civic service will take place at Pattern Church, which will be housed in the former Pattern Store. Services will take place at the location throughout De
Cycle of Prayer for the ministry of the Diocese
First published 20th November 2018Prayer is an amazing gift which strengthens our relationship with God; it has the power to change us and the world around us.
Connections: Dementia Friendly Cafe
First published 9th November 2018People living with dementia in Clifton have been given a safe place to meet and chat.All Saints Church in Clifton runs a dementia accessible cafe, Friends on Friday, for people with dementia, along with their family and friends.
Connections: Football Focus
First published 9th November 2018Sports ministry through football is helping the church in Lockleaze to connect with its community. Revd Dave Jeal, vicar at St James Lockleaze and chaplain for Bristol Rovers, is encouraging congregations to form their own teams.
Folk-based album based on Psalms released by Bristol vicar and son
First published 11th October 2018Bristol vicar - and award-winning composer - Steven Faux has teamed up with his son, Clem, to produce a new album. You Are is a contemporary folk-based album of songs based on the Book of Psalms and is the fourth in a series of albums.
St Mary's Lydiard Tregoze wins National Lottery support
First published 2nd October 2018We are delighted to announce that St Marys Church Lydiard Tregoze, which lies on the western edge of Swindon in historic Lydiard Park, has received a confirmed National Lottery grant award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Church reimagined for new generation as doors reopen after 60 years
First published 25th September 2018Community and church leaders will celebrate the re-opening of St Nicholas Church on Baldwin Street as it prepares to welcome its first visitors this coming Sunday.
Photo exhibition at Cathedral captures poignance of war graves
First published 24th August 2018Bristol Cathedral will be hosting a significant photography exhibition this autumn, remembering those who lost their lives in the First World War.
School opera celebrates church bells in Almondsbury
First published 17th August 2018Pupils at two schools have performed a new opera celebrating the restoration of the set of bells in St Marys Almondsbury.
St Alban Choir
First published 4th February 2018A church choir is making connections with the community.St Alban Choir, based at The Church in Westbury Park, currently sees 30 children and adults singing in at least one service every week.
Autumn and Winter Aid Appeal for Syria, Lebanon and Iraq
First published 7th August 2018During September The Church in Westbury Park is asking for peeople to bring items and money to be sent to those in the most dire need in refugee camps in Syria and Iraq.Below is a list of those items which are needed.
Ride and Stride 2018
First published 7th August 2018This year's annual Ride+Stride event, which takes place throughout Wiltshire on Saturday 8 September, is the perfect chance to visit some of the county's beautiful churches.
Revd Canon Michael Roden announced as new Canon Chancellor
First published 6th August 2018Bristol Cathedral has announced the appointment of Revd Canon Michael Roden as Canon Chancellor.
Mossy Church brings families closer to God and nature
First published 14th July 2016Families have been getting back to nature as they celebrated a new church service in the great outdoors.Children and adults from Wroughton Parish Church ventured into Kings Farm Wood on Sunday as they looked to encounter God through the natural world.
Even more tea, vicar?
First published 17th April 2018A Wiltshire vicar is taking her tea drinking to a new level during her 13 week sabbatical this Spring - and she cant stop talking about it.
Detectives wanted to solve murder mystery in Swindon church
First published 4th April 2018'Thou shall not kill' may be one of the Ten Commandments, but a church in Swindon will find itself breaking that command when it hosts a murder mystery evening later this year.
Celebrating Epiphany with Llamas at All Saints, Clifton
First published 18th January 2018Yes, a donkey at Christmas or Palm Sunday, but llamas for Epiphany?
Church reopens after six decades to work with young people
First published 15th January 2018A church in the centre of Bristol, which closed 65 years ago, is to reopen later this year with the aim of engaging young people and those who don't currently go to church in the city.
Scientists speak at church during month of science and faith
First published 4th January 2018Science and faith will converge across the four Sundays in January at All Saints Lydiard Millicent this January.
Ugandan Christmas - 2017 Schools Activity
First published 20th December 2017At the beginning of December, a group from West Swindon Church Partnership visited several of West Swindon primary schools.
Nativity characters mingle with shoppers in Yate
First published 19th December 2017Children from the Yate area are learning more about the Christmas story by bumping into various characters from the Nativity as they shop for presents or visit Santa in the Yate Shopping Centre.
New book tells colourful history of All Saints Church
First published 18th June 2018A new book tracing the history of All Saints Church, Clifton - once dubbed the Anglo-Catholic cathedral of the South West - has just been published.
Cathedral completes restoration of Victorian Rose Window
First published 4th December 2017Bristol Cathedral has unveiled its Victorian Rose Window, which has been newly restored and repaired after gift given by a donor wishing to remain anonymous.
Avonside Mission Area churches sign covenant
First published 3rd October 2017Members of churches in the Avonside Mission Area have gathered to celebrate the signing of their covenant.
Connections: Nook Pods
First published 21st September 2017Members of All Saints Church in Crudwell have found a novel way to create more usable space within the building.The church has started using a Nook Pod a specially built modular space on wheels which can be used for childrens activities, private con
Connections: Christians Against Poverty
First published 21st September 2017Churches in Bristol have been helping people struggling with financial worries through the work of Christians Against Poverty (CAP).
St Stephen's Southmead opens doors as Make Lunch Kitchen
First published 15th August 2017In the first two weeks of the school summer holidays, St Stephens in Southmead opened its doors for the first time as a Make Lunch Kitchen.
Work begins to restore Bristol Cathedral's Rose Window
First published 7th August 2017Work has begun to restore and repair Bristol Cathedrals Rose Window after an anonymous donor made a gift of 125,000, the largest philanthropic gift since the rebuilding of the Nave in the 1860s.
Bishop's bike ride to raise funds for Hope Bristol 2018
First published 20th July 2017Bishop Lee will be leading a group of seven cyclists around all the churches of North Wilts Deanery as they raise money for HOPE Bristol 2018, a five-day mission coming to Bristol next April.
The Happiness Lab
First published 22nd November 2017On the day after the covenant for the Avonside Mission Area was signed, a dozen delegates for the Happiness Laboratory met for their first session in the Tithe Barn in Shirehampton.
Advent and Christmas Prayers 2017
First published 21st November 2017Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming (adventus) of Christ in his incarnation, and also looks ahead to his final advent as judge at the end of time.This booklet of daily readings and prayers
Mission-Minded Christians invited to join inner city mission
First published 18th October 2017St Anne's Church Eastville in Bristol has established a Mission Team and is looking for mission-minded Christians, eager to be involved in exploring inner city mission with them.
Virtual 3D tour of Dauntsey church
First published 21st July 2017Virtual technology is giving a new view of the parish church in Dauntsey.
Christian Aid award for dedicated fundraiser
First published 16th May 2017The energy and commitment of a Christian Aid supporter who attends St Mary's Church, Purton, has been recognised with a national award.
Godparents' Sunday boosts family service
First published 28th April 2017Godparents Sunday is a response to research undertaken on behalf of the Archbishops Council looking at parents real experiences and expectations around the baptism of their child.
New book commemorates Bristol casualties in WW1
First published 10th April 2017In August 2014, Bristol Cathedral began telling the stories of some of the men from the Diocese of Bristol who died during the First World War, one for every month of the conflict.
Shrouds of the Somme tribute to fallen
First published 14th November 2016An iconic installation commemorating soldiers who fell on the first day of the Battle of the Somme has come to Bristol.
Martin Luther & the 500th Anniversary of the Start of the Reformation
First published 29th March 2017Martin Luther & the 500th Anniversary of the Start of the Reformation Bristol Anglo-German Society is pleased to invite you to hear the Right Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington.
HOPE at Easter
First published 20th March 2017HOPE is helping churches to make Jesus known this Easter with a new book, a short video and an explorers course.
Bristol DAC Awards 2018
First published 7th June 2018Each year the Diocesan Advisory Committee recognises a number of projects through its awards scheme.
Connections: Alpha Course
First published 4th May 2017The Alpha course, which invites people to explore what the Christian faith means for them, has recently introduced The Alpha Film Series and Youth Film Series to engage with new people attending the sessions.
Hands project marks 1,300 years of church
First published 12th May 2017A community project marking the 1,300th anniversary of Holy Trinity Church in Westbury-on-Trym is nearing its final stages with the help of the villages primary school children.
Let's Talk About … Dementia
First published 8th February 2017There are some subjects we try not to talk about one is dementia.
Bristol vicar goes over the top
First published 19th November 2014Bristol vicar, Rev Canon Nick Hay proved his dedication to tackling poverty when he not only abseiled 100ft down the Avon Gorge on Saturday 15 November, but also sang the nursery rhyme The Wheels on the Bus as he went down.
Kingswood churches launch Bristol's first Street Pastors
First published 22nd February 2011Members of churches in Kingswood are preparing to train as Street Pastors in order to care for others, especially young people, who find themselves in need of help in the town centre late at night.
Bristol church raises over £8,000 to help feed hungry children
First published 29th April 2015More than 8,000 has been raised by a Bristol church to help feed hungry children in its parish.
What happens when six tough parishes get together?
First published 29th May 2013This fourth report from the 'Northern Ark' mission initiative in north Bristol outlines the developments over the last year and begins to see a way forward.
undivided: Windows on the Reformation
First published 1st June 2017Following on its successful programme, Windows on Medieval Devotion, Bristol Cathedral is running a new programme of lectures titled Windows on the Reformation. This year marks a significant anniversary.
Sunday Sessions @ The Hare - St Paul's, Bristol
First published 7th February 2017Once a month, a south Bristol pub opens its doors to the church.
DAC Awards for church projects
First published 25th May 2017Four parishes in the Diocese of Bristol have been given recognition in the first round of DAC Awards.
Helping prisoners lead meaningful lives
First published 21st March 2016The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
Two new benefices of Fromeside and Frenchay and Stapleton
First published 28th July 2016A Pastoral Scheme creating two new benefices of Fromeside and Frenchay and Stapleton has been made.
Chores done for struggling Bristol residents
First published 12th September 2016Christians in Bristol have been carrying out chores in the homes of people struggling with their housework. Members of St Peters Church, Lawrence Weston, have formed a cleaning team and are offering their skills to anyone who is having difficulty.
New social justice seminars at Bristol Cathedral
First published 6th October 2016This autumn, Bristol Cathedral launches a new evening seminar programme called undivided: stories and social justice.
Prisons Week Visit to HMP Bristol
First published 13th October 2016On Monday October 11th 2016,Sixty-One, with the help of the prisons Coordinating Chaplain Muhammed Foulds, took 10 church leaders around HMP Bristol as part of its ongoing work to help offenders live lives free from crime.
Fire at St Michael on the Mount Without
First published 18th October 2016Many will have heard about the fire that devastated St Michael on the Mount Without in Bristol on Sunday 16th October and be concerned about how this tragic event happened.
Service replaces heavenly choirs with heavy metal
First published 25th October 2016A unique service of Holy Communion is happening in Bristol the night before Halloween with Bristol's first ever Metal Mass.
Advent Sleepout Challenge
First published 2nd November 2016Will you give up a night of comfort so that someone else doesn't have to?
Bacon, Eggs and Bishop Mike
First published 7th November 2016Q: What do you get if you cross a bishop, a golf club and a full English?A: The perfect recipe for the Christ Church Downend Mens breakfast. A group of 37 men of all ages gathered at the Kendleshire Golf Club to enjoy food.
Baby Jesus Rocks in Westbury Park
First published 12th December 2017Hand-painted stones featuring a sleeping baby Jesus have been left scattered around Westbury Park. The miniature artwork is the brain-child of Revd Emma Langley, vicar of St Alban Westbury Park.
Exploring our faith: stories from our churches
First published 5th March 2015The conversations about our faith instigated by our diocesan theme of Creating Confidence in Evangelism and further inspired by the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Cathedral celebrates Queen's 90th
First published 31st May 2016Bristol Cathedral will mark the official birthday of HM the Queen with a week of celebrations, including a special Sunday morning service and a Flower Festival.
iSingPOP at Ashton Keynes Primary
First published 16th June 2016Children at Ashton Keynes Primary School have put on a special concert for the Bishop of Swindon. The pupils had taken part in the iSingPOP project, which had culminated in two concerts at Holy Cross Church during May.
Churchwardens commit to Creating Connections
First published 16th June 2016Churchwardens from across the diocese gathered at seven deanery Visitations services during May to celebrate and affirm their ministry and formally take up their offices for another year.
Knitted Crib Pilgrimage - St Andrew's, Chippenham
First published 7th February 2017Woolly mementos of the Nativity found their way into homes across Chippenham last Christmas.
How to develop an action plan
First published 16th June 2016Developing a parish action plan, strategy or vision document is a process designed to help churches to prayerfully consider the mission and ministry that God is calling them to.
Battling holiday hunger in Bristol
First published 20th June 2016Can you volunteer to combat food poverty in Bristol this summer?
The Queen's birthday celebrations
First published 20th June 2016Churches across the Diocese of Bristol held parties as they helped to mark the 90th birthday of HM The Queen.
Exploring your parish's vision
First published 20th June 2016All Saints Clifton has recently gone through a process of exploring its vision and identity.
Shakespeare in 24 hours
First published 3rd August 2016Members of St Augustine Church, Swindon are calling on the town to lend them their ears for a special Shakespeare-inspired fundraiser.
Join the Sanctuary Tent at Glastonbury
First published 1st February 2017Glastonbury Festival is one of the iconic summer gatherings known across the world.
Bristol Nightstop helps homeless young people
First published 14th March 2016When young homeless teenagers are desperate for a place to sleep, Susanne Frank has a warm bed for them to use.She is one of a growing number of people opening up their homes to youngsters in need of somewhere to stay.
St Luke's Easter lunch club
First published 17th March 2016In the school holidays some children are without enough food and suffer from holiday hunger.Church members at St Luke's Church in Barton Hill (east Bristol) are responding to this by providing free hot meals and play time during the Easter break.
Paradise in the City
First published 4th April 2016Paradise in the City, d, Poland 19-25 July
Bristol foodbanks helped 10,600 people in 2015
First published 19th April 2016Emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis by Bristols Trussell Trust foodbanks (North Bristol Foodbank, Bristol North West Foodbank and East Bristol Foodbank) in 2015-16, new figures have revealed.
More tea and toast, vicar?
First published 11th May 2016Putting the kettle on and eating toast has helped give a group of mums the chance to meet and share together in church
Open to everyone
First published 11th May 2016Working closely with groups in your community can open up plenty of new opportunities, as the Revd Lee Barnes at St Stephens Bristol can attest.
Sanctuary Marquee at Glastonbury Festival
First published 5th May 2016Glastonbury Festival is one of the iconic summer gatherings known across the world.Millions of people, since it began, have attended the festival and it has grown tremendously over the years. It is one of the most creative places, not just for the mu
In solidarity with asylum seekers
First published 5th October 2015I was destitute, really destitute. And the Bristol Hospitality Network was the only organisation that gave me shelter at that time.
Help combat food poverty in Bristol
First published 13th October 2015In the school holidays some children are without enough food and suffer from holiday hunger. Can you volunteer to combat food poverty in Bristol this October half-term?
Gift of Gospel for prisoners
First published 23rd November 2015Hundreds of prisoners are being sent a Christmas gift bag containing presents and the Gospel.
Wroughton Passion Play
First published 18th January 2016The Easter story is coming to Wroughton. Swindon-based theatre company Gatecrash Theatre has joined forces with Wroughton Parish Church and the Bible Society, to put on a new version of the Passion Play.
Generosity overwhelms following refugee appeal
First published 18th January 2016Generosity has overwhelmed the Church in Westbury Park (St Albans CofE and Westbury Park Methodist) after it put out an appeal last week for warm winter clothing for refugees in Northern Iraq and Syria.
Bristol Cathedral holds special Faith and Politics lectures
First published 19th October 2017Bristol Cathedral is holding two special lectures addressing faith and politics in our post-Trump, post-Brexit society.
Peace and unity in Swindon's Parks community
First published 4th June 2015Residents of Swindon's Parks area have been showing their support for Peace and Unity in the Parks Community, following the death of Alison Connolly, by wearing special ribbons with blue for unity and white to represent peace.
Petertide Ordinations 2015: prayers and reflections
First published 9th June 2015Petertide is almost upon us and with it the ordination season.
If you go down to Kingswood today...
First published 10th June 2015Holy Trinity Church in Kingswood played host to a Teddy Bear Wedding in May courtesy of their playgroup CafeTots, and their end of term celebrations.
C in the Park
First published 6th July 2015A fine mid-summers day was just what the doctor ordered for this years C in the Park event last month, organised by members of churches in Downend and the surrounding area.
Disability is not inability
First published 14th July 2015Lay Minister Janet Leckie reflects on Disability Sunday, which churches across the Diocese celebrated on 5 July 2015.
Picnic and praise in Stratton
First published 15th July 2015On Sunday 4 July, Stratton Team Ministry held their annual Picnic & Praise event, an amazing act of witness and worship in the community.Curate Helen Baber explains how this has grown year on year and helped to strengthen local relationships.
Café culture; reaching out, inviting in
First published 5th September 2013Hospitality has always been at the heart of Christian community and is a mark of a healthy church.
Faith in social action
First published 30th September 2015It is very humbling to be amongst so many people doing outstanding work in our city.
Report on Bristol's response to food poverty
First published 18th March 2015A recent report released by the 5K Partnership provides an review of food poverty across Bristol, reflecting the position in 2014.
Easter: Just a story?
First published 30th March 2015Anita Dobson, Family Worker at Christ Church Downend, reflects on the 'story' of Easter...As I was thinking about the Easter story, I was aware how uncomfortable that word sounds.
Practical love: Bristol Noise 2015
First published 2nd April 2015Every May bank holiday weekend, something extraordinary happens in Bristol. Hundreds of Christians from dozens of churches come together to serve their communities over three packed days of social action.
Ecumenical prayer of disabled people
First published 11th May 2015Thanks to Auriol Britton for supplying this ecumenical prayer of disabled people.
Yate away day for people with learning disabilities
First published 11th May 2015On Saturday 9 May at St Nicholas Family Centre in Yate, Prospects ministry groups from across the west came together to celebrate Jesus resurrection with a day of workshops and celebrations.
Bishop Mike licenses new church centre
First published 11th May 2015At a special celebration service on Sunday 10 May, Bishop Mike dedicated and licensed a new church centre in Stoke Gifford for public worship, marriages, baptisms and funerals.
