A Church of England-backed conservation project has been launched to help with the preservation of thousands of stone monuments that feature in churchyards throughout the country. There are believed to
Author: Natalie Sansom
Engaging with lived experiences to improve safeguarding practice
A victim of church-based sexual abuse will be speaking at the next Safeguarding Good Practice Participation Forum in October. Organised by the Diocese of Gloucester and the NST, it will
General Synod report to deaneries, July 2025
An update from the July General Synod from your representatives for the Diocese of Gloucester: the Revd Jennifer Fellows, Robert McNeill-Wilson, Canon Margaret Sheather, the Revd Canon Dana Delap, and
The Great Switch for Creation, green energy tariffs
The Church of England has launched ‘The Great Switch for creation’ campaign to encourage churches across the country to reduce their environmental impact by making ‘the Great Switch’ to a
Message from Bishop Robert, 2 September 2025
I had one of those supposedly small administrative tasks last week that turned into something of a saga. As a charity trustee, I had to confirm my identity with the
Tewkesbury Abbey’s labrador Assistant Vergers set to retire
After two years of service at Tewkesbury Abbey, labradors Eric and Flo will be retiring from their roles as Assistant Vergers to enjoy a relaxing retirement at home. Eric, 11,
Guardians of Ancora holiday club: “It helped us remember that God loves everyone”
The benefice of St George’s Tuffley and St Margaret’s Whaddon once again welcomed children, young people and families to their annual summer holiday club, which this year was based on
Trinity provides 120 Bibles to local school with diocese grant
Holy Trinity, Cheltenham has used a diocesan Mission Grant to buy 120 Bibles for pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School. The church applied for the grant specifically to buy Bibles
Gloucester Cathedral’s Stone Carving Festival: online auction now live
An online auction is now live and features unique stone carvings from Gloucester Cathedral’s Stone Carving Festival. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Gloucester Cathedral hosted a Stone Carving Festival,
Heritage Open Days and Ride and Stride – Ecclesiastical resources for churches
This September, many churches will take part in Heritage Open Days and Ride and Stride. These are great opportunities to welcome visitors, share your mission and ministry, fundraise, and showcase
Young people find work and education with SPEAR at Trinity
Trinity Cheltenham is helping 16 to 24 year-olds facing barriers to work or education find fresh opportunities through the SPEAR programme. Since opening in 2022, Cheltenham’s SPEAR centre has worked
Exploring faith through gaming at Meon Vale holiday club
A unique holiday club blending gaming and faith brought young people together in Meon Vale at the end of July. Organised by Jay Niblett, Rector of Rivervale Churches (Benefice of
Masonry course keeps traditional skills alive
This event has been cancelled for 2025. Apologies for any inconvenience. St Saviour’s Church in Redbrook is currently offering places on its annual masonry course, where participants learn about church
Liking the lichens in St Cyr’s ‘BioBlitz’
Beautiful lichens, many moths, four species of bat and one unidentified, ‘mystery’ bat were among the discoveries during St Cyr Stinchcombe’s ‘BioBlitz’ on 10 August. The ‘BioBlitz’ aimed to observe
Join Christian Aid’s ‘craftivism’ campaign
Christian Aid is hoping to transform the broken into the beautiful with its new craftivism campaign. Worshipping communities and individuals are invited to join this new campaign urging MPs to
Plant barrow partnership with the Men’s Shed
The Men’s Shed has partnered with St Mary’s Church, Tetbury to create a costermonger barrow for the church to display seasonal plants. A costermonger barrow is a traditional style pushcart
Creationtide 2025: peace with creation
This year’s Season of Creation is focused on peace with creation, inspired by the words of Isaiah 32:14-18. The Church marks the Season of Creation from 1 September to 4
New bat survey conducted at Tewkesbury Abbey
Tewkesbury Abbey has surveyed bats in the building as part of its ‘Welcoming All’ project. It was completed on Thursday (7 August) to help the Abbey consolidate past findings, check
Welcome: More than an open door
During the summer, lots of people are visiting new areas and exploring churches, maybe even popping in to experience a service. Robin Riordan, Churchwarden in Tidenham Parish, shares how the
Meet the Bishop’s Advisor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
We are delighted to welcome Philippa Donald as the Bishop’s Advisor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Philippa started learning British Sign Language (BSL) in 2021, and she hopes
Thomas Powe reflects on first month as new curate
Thomas Powe became ordained as a curate in June, currently serving at St Paul and St Stephen’s Church in Gloucester. A curate is a newly ordained minister who does a
LEGO Gloucester Cathedral model on display
A detailed LEGO model of Gloucester Cathedral is now on display at the Cathedral. It is constructed from around 13,500 individual bricks, and measures at 90cm wide, 60cm deep and
St Peter’s turns churchyard corner into wildlife garden
The Eco Church group at St Peter’s Church, Winchcombe has turned a once-neglected corner of their churchyard into a wildlife garden, using a diocesan Wildlife Garden Grant to support the
South Asian Heritage Month 2025
For South Asian Heritage Month (from 18 July to 17 August 2025), and in keeping with this year’s theme ‘Roots to Routes’, the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative shares a
