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 of
Author: Natalie Sansom
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 have
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 Gloucestershire
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 and
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 a
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’s
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.
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 see
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,
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, organised
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 to
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 the
Putting welcome into practice with the Welcome Directory
The Welcome Directory is a nationwide list of faith or belief communities ready to welcome and support people leaving prison. It helps those transitioning from prison to find a welcoming,
Lisa on justice and compassion in the prison system
This week is Prisons Week, with the theme that ‘God’s word is not chained’ (2 Timothy 2:29). We talk to Lisa Ustok, a member of the worshipping community at Trinity
Prison dairy worker scheme supports rehabilitation for prisoners
Next week, Prisons Week (12–18 October) invites churches and communities across the country to pray for and support those affected by crime and imprisonment. As Christians, we believe no one
Nature corridors event on path to Gold Award
Two Cheltenham churches are promoting nature corridors as they make the push towards their Gold Eco Church Awards. St Peter’s Church, Leckhampton and St St Philip and St James’ Church,
Local carpenter builds his own pool for baptism
A carpenter from Lower Quinton has been baptised in a pool that he constructed himself. Harry Malin, who runs H.M Carpentry, was baptised by the Revd Jay Niblett during the
Faith and mystery under the Moon at Tewkesbury Abbey
“A beautiful building brings beauty to everything that inhabits it. With the Moon hanging here, it’s a chance for people of all ages to pause, look up, and experience something
Message from Bishop Robert, 30 September 2025
Creation is the setting for our salvation.
Historic chapel revived as ‘The Shepherd’s Hut’ in Little Sodbury
An abandoned chapel in Little Sodbury has been restored and reopened as ‘The Shepherd’s Hut’, offering traditional Book of Common Prayer (BCP) Holy Communion services and new outreach initiatives. In
Awe, light and cheer at Festival of Wonder 2025
Anticipation is building for Stroud’s annual Festival of Wonder, held in St Laurence Church: a celebration designed to help recapture a sense of awe and wonder of God’s creation, bringing
Bishop Rachel to join The Missing Peace book launch
Bishop Rachel will join author Chris Whittington at Pip and Jim’s in Cheltenham on Thursday 20 November to mark the publication of his new book, The Missing Peace: Meditation as
St Mary’s to host art auction fundraiser for roof repairs
St. Mary’s Church in Wotton-under-Edge is inviting everyone to an art auction with over 170 pieces to raise money for church roof repairs. The event begins on Friday 3 October,
Pupils seal time capsule in village church
Children from Westbury-on-Severn Church of England Primary School have placed a lasting reminder of their part in the village of Westbury’s history by placing a time capsule in the walls
