This year, Sodbury Vale Benefice is spreading seasonal cheer online with their digital Advent calendar – inviting everyone to share in the hopes, memories, and joy of Christmas as seenContinue reading
Author: Natalie Sansom
A greener and warmer winter for St Mary’s
St Mary’s Church, Lower Slaughter is looking forward to a greener and warmer winter thanks to the installation of a new electric heating system, funded through a combination of aContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 25 November 2025
Today, Tuesday 25 November, marks White Ribbon Day. It is followed by a call to 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, part of a powerful call to end violenceContinue reading
Clearwater teachers visit our Tanzanian partners
Clearwater C of E Primary Academy teacher Judith Manns and headteacher Kate Moss have visited two primary schools in our link Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania. Judith shared herContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 18 November 2025
In recent days I have again been in a variety of settings with different people, including: meetings and conversations with diocesan colleagues and other bishops; time with clergy; a debateContinue reading
Faith and finance – a financial wellbeing conference
‘Faith and finance’ will be taking place in March 2026. It’s a new diocesan event designed to help us think more clearly, confidently, and faithfully about money, in our personalContinue reading
‘The hymn books have sung again’
When St Mary’s Tetbury realised their 350 retired hymn books were not suitable for donation and could not be sold, the church sought a more imaginative solution than just sendingContinue reading
This Sunday is Safeguarding Sunday
Safeguarding Sunday is on 16 November and this year’s theme, ‘action speaks louder’, encourages people to move beyond talking about safeguarding and take meaningful steps towards creating safer spaces. BishopContinue reading
Grace Network launches ethical Christmas hamper
The Grace Network, based in The Old Department Store in Cirencester, is offering a thoughtful way to give back this Christmas with a hamper that supports communities both locally andContinue reading
‘Ageing Gracefully’ available in new online format
When Dr Ian Donald first launched ‘Ageing Gracefully’ in 2023, his aim was to help people confront the realities of ageing through both medical understanding and Christian faith. Drawing onContinue reading
Engaging with COP30, 10 to 21 November
From 10 to 21 November, world leaders will gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, the 30th annual UN climate conference. As the date draws near, there are lots of opportunitiesContinue reading
St Laurence gains lottery support for building restoration work
Support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund brings new hope for saving Stroud’s historic St Laurence Church. Up to £225,636 in development funding has been awarded to St Laurence’s project,Continue reading
Message from Archdeacon Hilary, 4 November 2025
Autumn has well and truly arrived. The nights are getting colder, the clocks have changed, and the trees look spectacular. It’s a season of quiet remembrance, the storing up ofContinue reading
St Ecgwin’s churchyard decorated for Remembrance
The churchyard of St Ecgwin’s in Honeybourne has been decorated with a beautiful display of poppies and black bands, made by members of the village. Knitted poppies and bands haveContinue reading
St Catharine’s welcomes ‘Lion’s Breath’
St Catharine’s Church, Gloucester has welcomed a striking new arrival – the lion sculpture, ‘Lion’s Breath’, one of the sculptures from this summer’s Lions at Large: The Pride of GloucestershireContinue reading
Dioceses unite to explore racial justice work at WMRJI retreat
Ten members from the Diocese of Gloucester joined representatives from all six dioceses in the West Midlands for the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) two-day retreat on 16 andContinue reading
Alexandra Dyer on faith and opening doors for others
“When you read the Bible, particularly with the disciples, if a town wasn’t welcoming to them, they shook the dust off their feet and walked away. They didn’t make aContinue reading
Bats and hot chocolate at St James’ Quedgeley
St James’ Church, Quedgeley held a hot chocolate and bat watch event on Friday (17 October), attracting over 60 people to the churchyard. The event was part of the church’sContinue reading
Meysey Hampton: aspirational, welcoming, and enriching
Meysey Hampton has been voted by the Telegraph newspaper as the best primary school in the country, based on national assessments that measured factors like academic performance and class sizes.Continue reading
New accessibility icons help churches welcome all
A Church Near You has launched a new set of accessibility icons designed to help churches share clear information about their facilities. These easy-to-recognise symbols allow visitors to quickly seeContinue reading
Message from Dean Andrew, 21 October 2025
Many readers will know that the Diocese of Gloucester is part of the West Midlands Regional Racial Justice Initiative – a bold collaboration between the Dioceses of Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford,Continue reading
Bishop Rachel scarecrow welcomes hundreds to Longhope
Visitors to this year’s Longhope Scarecrow Festival were greeted by a very special figure – a life-sized scarecrow of Bishop Rachel, welcoming guests through the church gates. The festival, organisedContinue reading
Anti-Slavery Day: How churches can respond
Anti-Slavery Day, observed every year on 18 October, provides an opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery and encourages individuals, churches, charities, companies, and local authorities toContinue reading
Nightstop: Apple crumble and second chances
There are many reasons that a young person might find themselves homeless, such as family breakdown or losing a job. Without a stable address, they can quickly fall through theContinue reading
