Tesco Café has become the latest place to stock the hugely popular Around the Spire Magazine, set up five years ago by Father Hugh Broad, former journalist and now AssociateContinue reading
Author: Natalie Sansom
Mental health support with the Diocesan Professional Counselling Service
As we look towards World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October, we explore the mental health support provided by the Diocesan Professional Counselling Service (DCPS). The Diocesan Professional CounsellingContinue reading
Council’s nature recovery promotes biodiverse churchyards
Stroud deanery is supporting biodiversity recovery by integrating churchyards into Gloucestershire County Council’s nature recovery plan. Suggested and led by Rebecca Charley, Stroud District Council’s nature recovery and biodiversity lead,Continue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 8 October 2024
As we pause to acknowledge that yesterday was exactly one year since the horrendous terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas and all that has continued to unfold since then, IContinue reading
Joyful service of licensing and celebration at Gloucester Cathedral
On Saturday, Gloucester Cathedral hosted a joyful service of thanksgiving and dedication where 200 people gathered to witness the admission of two new Readers and to license a third ReaderContinue reading
Bishop Robert’s night on the town with Cheltenham Street Pastors
Bishop Robert joined Cheltenham Street Pastors on Saturday night (21 September) for their regular community patrol. Cheltenham Street Pastors are a group of trained volunteers who offer support and careContinue reading
Last chance to make yourself heard
The Church 2024 survey has been taken by some four thousand people and there is still time to take part and make your opinions known before the survey closes. InitialContinue reading
Festival of Stars 2024: visual highlights from a brilliant day
Bishop Rachel opened the fourth annual Festival of Stars in the gardens of Dalkeith Residential Care Home in Cheltenham, and described the day as ‘brilliant’.
Message from Bishop Robert, 17 September 2024
This coming Saturday (21 September) at 3pm in the Cathedral, we shall be celebrating the ministry of Readers in our Diocese. Two new Readers will be admitted and licensed toContinue reading
Karen Czapiewski becomes a licensed Reader after many years of service
“I’ve needed people alongside God to get me to this point. And now, I hope to be that support for others.”
From volcanoes to bubbles, rockets and faith with ‘Dads and kids’ at Thornbury
Thornbury Benefice is home to an innovative monthly session that brings together dads, grandads, carers and their kids for a morning of creativity, conversation, and connection. Led by Thomas andContinue reading
HabiMap: churches partner with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to support biodiversity
A new project to map the biodiversity of churchyards is giving a glimpse of the vital role green spaces can play in caring for wildlife. HabiMap is a citizen scienceContinue reading
Stroud church’s eco success featured in national C of E video
Holy Trinity Church in Stroud has been featured in a national Church of England video highlighting the success of its recent carbon friendly heating overhaul. Back in May, we sharedContinue reading
Rowan Williams and Pete Atkin come together for insightful evening in Cheltenham
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and singer-songwriter Pete Atkin are set to explore the power of words in both poetry and music on Friday 4 October.
Stranger to Friend: Exploring welcome and hospitality in church
The Revd Canon Dr Sandra Millar, Director of Mission and Ministry, welcomes you to Stranger to Friend, an event taking place this November. “A few years ago I happened toContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 3 September 2024
In my Bulletin message at the end of July I wrote of how the summer months offered the opportunity of living life a little slower with a little more spaceContinue reading
Season of Creation 2024: to hope and act with Creation
Creationtide 2024 is here, and this year the theme is to hope and act with Creation, reflecting on the symbol of The firstfruits of hope (Romans 8:19-25). Creationtide started onContinue reading
Wildflower garden brings new life to St Michael’s churchyard
A wildflower garden planted in early March has introduced bees, butterflies, and bottoms on benches at St Michael and All Angels churchyard, as Jake Olver, PCC treasurer for Badminton, explains:Continue reading
St Stephen’s Cinderford expands fairtrade shop and hosts fashion show for Fairtrade Fortnight
St Stephen’s Church in Cinderford is planning a big celebration for Fairtrade Fortnight 2024, expanding their in-church shop and hosting a fashion show. This year is 30 years since FairtradeContinue reading
Bishop Rachel: “We need to rethink what prisons are for”
On Sunday, Bishop Rachel spoke to Caroline Martin on BBC Radio Gloucester, sharing her views on the urgent need for prison reform in the UK.
Chime time at St Mary’s Norton as bell installation is completed
For years, Norton’s bells had a reputation for being a bit off-key and tricky to ring. As volunteer project manager and experienced bell ringer Simon Ridley put it, “the bellsContinue reading
Heritage open days around the diocese this September
Heritage Open Days 2024 are taking place from 6 to 15 September. These events are free and explore history and culture across the country. Lots of events are taking placeContinue reading
A message from Adam Klups, Care of Churches and DAC Team Leader
Over the past weeks we have seen an increased number of theft reports from churches across Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. Thieves have been targeting metal roofs, flashings and rainwater goodsContinue reading
Teens say big ‘yes’ to Jesus
“Each candidate shared such varied stories of why they wanted to get baptised… Jacob, aged 19, came to faith after hearing the vicar give a simple Christmas talk for theContinue reading
