Small‑group life is taking off at St James’ Quedgeley, where a simple idea from David and Meg Heywood has grown into something far bigger than they expected.
When the retired priests joined the church, they took some time considering what they might offer to the worshipping community there and soon felt a nudge to offer a small group for anyone wanting to explore faith in a relaxed, open way.
The church has had occasional small group study before, but not a more focussed course, and David and Meg thought this could be a gentle way to help people connect, learn and share.
In autumn of 2025, they gathered a group of people together to look at Saints Alive, a straightforward course looking at Jesus and the Holy Spirit and to think about what the significance of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection means for everyday faith. David is a part time editor for ReSource who published the course.
David said, “Our group loved meeting together, and people said they really appreciated the content of the course. One of the things people liked most the course focussed on discussion, reflection on the teaching of the course and sharing experiences. The change it makes isn’t loud or dramatic, but we’ve seen people growing in confidence when talking about their faith.”
People came along from lots of different traditions and backgrounds. “One person said the group encouraged them to start reading the Bible again, while another felt prompted to use their Rosary beads,” David said. “It helps people make time for God and develop that relationship.”
For David and Meg, this is what discipleship is all about. “We believe following Jesus is more than just going to church on a Sunday,” David said. “It’s about relationships and living out your faith in every part of your life.
“At the end of the course, we prayed with anointing for everyone to receive the Holy Spirit, and people started praying for each other spontaneously. Learning to love each other is really at the heart of being a Christian.”
The first group went so well that when Meg said she’d run another group for Lent, this time using Alive in Christ, the next course in the series, the number of people wanting to join almost doubled. They’ve now set up an extra group so that everyone who wants to take part can do so.
The Revd Dr Mark Siddall, Priest in Charge, said, “Quedgeley is a huge parish, shaped by the extraordinary amount of housebuilding that’s taken place since 2007. With a parish this size come countless possibilities, and as we work out our priorities, we try to take a ‘seeking’ approach — paying attention to the people already in our worshipping communities and the gifts and passions they bring.
“Meg and David’s skills are a real blessing, and as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit into this area, we’re already seeing these small groups bearing fruit and growing brilliantly.”
The wider church community has also stepped in to support the groups by praying for each participant by name as they begin their Lent journey with Alive in Christ.
David says he’s been changed by the experience too. “At the start, Meg asked what we each hoped to get from the course. I said I wanted to feel more comfortable in a group setting. And actually, I’m learning, even late in life, that you often find Jesus most clearly in relationship with others.”
Find out more about sharing your faith this Lent →
News Hub
