At the end of January 2026, Bishop Rachel returned to visit Israel and Palestine, meeting Anglicans living in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Category: Latest news
A message from Kate Stacey, Collaborative Ministry Lead: Lifelong learning
The Revd Kate Stacey, Collaborative Ministry Lead: Lifelong learning, for the Diocese of Gloucester is moving to a new role as Head of Discipleship in Oxford Diocese. She said: “I
Message from Bishop Robert, 10 February 2026
When the King was crowned, he began the service by saying that he came, after the example of Jesus Christ, not to be served but to serve. His is a
Inclusion and Access for All Group
The diocesan Inclusion and Access for All Group is a volunteer group from across the diocese, working with the Mission and Ministry department to promote inclusion and accessibility in diocesan
Caring for Creation together
Over the past 18 months, the Church House team has taken important steps on its journey towards caring more faithfully for God’s creation. This has included getting a clearer picture
Become a Sportily Movement Maker
Sportily is continuing to grow its programme of sport and physical activity sessions across Gloucestershire, creating welcoming spaces where people of all ages can get active, make friends and explore
Faithful Generations fun day
People of grandparent age and the children they care for are invited to St John Baptist Church in Cirencester for an afternoon of intergenerational exploration, creativity, and reflection.
Faith stories: Rory Wilson
“It’s hard to grasp how different life was before I came to know God. I was reborn as a different person.”
Fighting modern slavery in our communities
Did you know there are an estimated 122,000 men, women & children trapped in modern slavery in the UK? In Gloucestershire, the latest National Referral Mechanism (NRM) statistics show that in 2023,
Supporting clergy through divorce
Marriage breakdowns can be complex for clergy and their families. Although it can be a necessary step, a right decision, or a way out of an unhealthy situation, it can
Small project set-up grants available
The Sylvanus Lysons Charity is offering a limited number of small project set-up grants of up to £2,000. These will be offered to churches for initiatives which enable the church
Holocaust Memorial Day at St Mary’s
Khalid Sidahmed will be speaking at St Mary’s Church, Kingswood, on 21 February to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2026. For the first time in its Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations, the
Could you be part of Deanery Synod?
Elections for lay members of Deanery Synod are coming up at Annual Parochial Church Meetings this year. This could be a great opportunity to step into a role that helps
Inclusive worship blesses Blakeney
All Saints’ Church in Blakeney has been building a creative partnership with Yew Tree House and The Shalom Network to find simple, meaningful ways to co-create worship that becomes more
Message from Bishop Rachel, 3 February 2026
Yesterday in the Church’s calendar we marked the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (also known as Candlemas), 40 days after Christmas (Luke 2:22-40).
First Net Zero demonstrator home
A clergy house in a conservation area, with a previously low EPC rating, has been transformed into a demonstrator eco‑home, enabling the Diocese of Gloucester to research practical, cost‑effective ways
Bishops’ collections charities 2026
Every year, Bishop Rachel and Bishop Robert select three charities, both local and international, to benefit from the funds raised through collections at the services they lead. Pictured: A church
Message from Bishop Robert, 27 January
Telling a better story of Britain. Last week, at a meeting of the College of Bishops, we were challenged by Professor Luke Bretherton, Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Life at the University of Oxford …
LPWGS scrapped
On 22 January 2026, the UK Government confirmed the end of Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. They have instead announced a new funding package for arts and culture, including
Helen’s decade of service as a Link Officer
The Revd Helen Sammon, Diocesan Link Officer for our Western Tanganyika (DWT) partnership, has stepped down from her role after 10 years of dedicated service. She tells us about some
The life of a Waterways Chaplain
Charles Garven is a Waterways Chaplain and a Reader. He shares the everyday reality of his vocation as he lives, works and prays alongside the canal community. “The work of
A busy week in the House of Lords: Bishop Rachel’s challenges to government
Last week, Bishop Rachel was the bishop on duty in the House of Lords, and spoke on six occasions on various topics. Full details are below: Grok and Twitter/X:
Generations seeking stillness
Space, connection and silence were the focus for people at the latest Thriving Church event. 90 representatives from deaneries across the diocese gathered to consider the latest research into generational
Message from Bishop Rachel
Following this week’s meeting of the House of Bishops (referred to as HoB) and the issuing of a detailed statement ahead of the meeting of General Synod (referred to as GS) in February, I wanted to write something on behalf of myself and Bishop Robert to add something of our own perspective.
