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.
News
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.
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.
Petertide Ordinations 2015: prayers and reflections
First published 9th June 2015Petertide is almost upon us and with it the ordination season.
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.
Parties in the park
First published 11th May 2015In the last couple of years,Churches Together in Greater Bristol (CTGB) have helped set up three city-wide gatherings in the open air, under the banner of Together for Bristol.
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.
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.
Ecumenical prayer of disabled people
First published 11th May 2015Thanks to Auriol Britton for supplying this ecumenical prayer of disabled people.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Helping people deal with debt
First published 27th November 2014A rising number of Church of England parishes are providing help to people with problem debt, a new survey has found.
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.
Prison chaplaincy
First published 13th November 2014As part of our focus on prison ministry during Prisons Week, we caught up with Rev Father Paul Bartle-Jenkins who is Assistant Anglican Chaplain at HMP Bristol (previously known as Horfield Prison).
MentorMe: helping rebuild lives
First published 13th November 2014MentorMe is a Christian organisation based in Bristol, supporting ex-offenders.
Church at the centre of the community in Pinehurst
First published 10th October 2014Justin's visit has left a real buzz with those he met and it has increased people's awareness of the local church being active and a force for good in our neighbourhood.
Reflections on the Malmesbury baptisms
First published 10th October 2014I was proud to proclaim "This is my faith" in front of my wife, my friends from the Abbey, our baptismal group and ministers, the Archbishop and God!
Swindon examples - How do Christians care for others?
First published 8th October 2014This unit of local RE asks the questions 'How do Christians care for others?' and examines the case studies of Swindon Foodbank and the Gateway Furniture project.
An 'audacious' community project
First published 3rd September 2014Members of St Michael's Church, Stoke Gifford have been taking a look at their new church and community centre ahead of its dedication next month.
Thanksgiving for Frenchay Hospital
First published 3rd September 2014There was a special service of Thanksgiving for Frenchay Hospital at St John the Baptist in Frenchay in July.
How to build a community centre
First published 16th July 2014Our investment in the new centre embodies our mission to put across the Christian message of love and service in a very practical way.
A Friend's Scheme for a Parish Church
First published 11th July 2014Have you ever wondered how to set up a 'Friend's Scheme'for your parish church?
Archdeacon visits new debt centre
First published 16th December 2013Archdeacon Christine Froude has visited a newly opened debt centre in Sea Mills, Bristol as part of the Christmas Starts with Christ campaign.
Swindon churches raise £10,000 for Christian Aid
First published 6th December 2013Inspired by the 2012 Paralympics, Swindon Old Town's Partnership of Churches more than doubled their fundraising target for a Christian Aid project to help people living with disability in Lebanon and the West Bank.
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.
The Filling Station - what's it about?
First published 8th July 2013As it gathers momentum, we speak to Revd Nick Crawley to find out more about this growing [largely rural] ministry and what's been driving it.
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.
Faith, Hope and ...Foodbanks?
First published 14th May 2013With the number of foodbanks rising to cope with growing demand, we take a step back to ask what the root causes might be, and what is the role of the church in its ministry to stand alongside those in poverty.
Student Faith Crawl
First published 12th April 2013In March, the University of Bristol Chaplaincy organised a "Faith Crawl", enabling students from different faith backgrounds to engage with the city's different faith communities.
St Matthew's Church Passion
First published 25th March 2013In an exciting project for Good Friday, St Matthews Kingsdown will be performing a passion play.
Millenium Youth Choir goes west
First published 8th March 2013Members of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Millennium Youth Choir will soon be heading to the west of England for a busy Easter course.
Spiritual gifts for Colerne
First published 4th March 2013A member of the congregation at Colerne parish church has put her artistic gifts to good use by creating a series of icons for the church's Lady Chapel.
Mar Thoma Bishop visits Bristol
First published 4th March 2013The Mar Thoma Bishop of North America and Europe, Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, was in Bristol this weekend to visit members of the Mar Thoma parish of St Thomas, who share a building with St Anne's Anglican church, Eastville.
Growth: a good problem to have
First published 11th February 2013St Michaels Church in Stoke Gifford is launching a £5.8m project to build a new multi-purpose church and community centre in the parish, following sustained growth in the church over the last decade.
Soundwell lights up for Candlemas
First published 6th February 2013Over 500 people took part in a community lantern procession organised by members of St Stephen's Church in Soundwell to celebrate the feast of Candlemas on Saturday 2nd February.
Swindon churches engage
First published 25th January 2013Bishop Lee has celebrated the results of a survey which demonstrates the extensive engagement of Christians in Swindon with children and young people.
Chancellor rules on Lacock cup
First published 5th December 2012The Chancellor of the Diocese of Bristol, Revd Justin Gau, has ruled at a Consistory Court held at St Cyriacs Church, Lacock that the parish can sell a piece of silverware known as the Lacock Cup to the British Museum.
Re-fuelling rural churches
First published 15th November 2012The Filling Station, which started in the Diocese of Bristol, is supporting and strengthening local churches in rural areas across the country.
Shoebox theology
First published 13th November 2012I had the best afternoon for ages today. I was invited down to the Operation Christmas Child collection centre at Christ the Servant church in Stockwood today by my friend and colleague Sue Farrance.
Stepping out in faith
First published 10th October 2012Last month saw churches extending an invitation to people in their communities through Back to Church Sunday and as numerous Alpha courses started.
Last Sunday I was delighted to join the ...
First published 12th September 2012Last Sunday I was delighted to join the last morning of the residential weekend which is the start of our new Lay Ministers' Formation Year.
Severnside Churches Celebrate Together
First published 12th September 2012Old Down Manor opened its doors to the Severnside Churches as they hosted an ecumenical Songs of Praise on 9 September.
Glowing reviews of Uganda Fire 2012
First published 23rd May 2012The Uganda Fire Choir and Band has been touring the diocese for the last 12 days performing and sharing their faith in in schools and churches.
Cafe church in Gloucestershire
First published 14th May 2012What's so inspiring?....
Outreach in east Bristol
First published 14th May 2012What's so inspiring? A heart for Jesus and proactive outreach to the local community is delivering growth in attendance, awareness and giving at St. Aidans in east Bristol.
Bristol NW Foodbank meets physical and spiritual needs
First published 31st August 2011With Harvest approaching, one woman's initiative in setting up a "foodbank" in north-west Bristol embodies God's spiritual and physical provision.
Creative play with the Scrapstore Playpod in Pucklechurch
First published 5th July 2011The Scrapstore Playpod has revolutionised play at Pucklechurch Primary School. It essentially allows them to use manufacturing offcuts such as tubes, nets and hoops in their creative play.
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.
Mission through partnership in East Bristol
First published 5th February 2011Revd Trevor Denley, an Ordained Local Minister in the East Bristol Partnership, gives an account of an Anglican and a Methodist Church working together in mission.
“Mixed economy†yields growth in Almondsbury
First published 4th February 2011As part of our Growth in Numbers series, Revd Philip Rowe tells how a "mixed economy" approach in Almondsbury, north of Bristol, has seen more people engaging in the life of the church.
St Stephen's reveals Reconciliation Reredos
First published 1st February 2011On Friday 21st January a piece of art history and hope for the future was unveiled in St Stephens Church, Bristol, with the Reconciliation Reredos.