For many years October has been marked out as Black History Month, during which black contributions to British society are highlighted and celebrated. There are specific opportunities to hear stories and insights and to look through a different lens not only as we promote and celebrate racial diversity and culture but also as we shine a light on racial justice.
Tag: Bishop Rachel
Message from Bishop Rachel, 12 September 2023
Increasingly in my ministry, not least in my ministry with prisons and criminal justice, I reflect on the reality that all the brokenness in our world is rooted in broken relationship: Relationship with God, with neighbour and with self, and of course with the earth and the whole of creation. This is echoed in our failure to keep those commandments, underlined by Jesus Christ, to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength’ and to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’.
Clearwater Academy pupils add voices to Victim Support book
Children from Clearwater Church of England Primary Academy in Gloucester have collaborated on a book with local charity Victim Support, to help young people who have experienced crime talk aboutContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 1 August 2023
In this, my last contribution before I begin my sabbatical on Friday, I want to express my particular thanks to our retired clergy.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 25 July 2023
I seem to have spent quite a lot of time over the last two weeks in and around tents and marquees. Here at Bishopscourt, there has been a marquee in the garden and it has been wonderful hosting people for garden parties amid sunshine and rain: clergy and lay leaders, people from charities and organisations, children and adults – and all of it I hope has been about welcome, being present together and perhaps having a couple of hours of different rhythm.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 11 July 2023
Last week, it was a privilege to host a reception in the House of Lords the day before the Online Safety Bill returned for debate. At the event, a number of young people from Gloucestershire addressed MPs, peers and leaders of charities and organisations regarding social media and the impact it has had on them and some of the issues they would like the Government to address in the bill.
Bishop Rachel speaks in General Synod, on sentencing and rehabilitation
Speaking as Anglican Bishop for Prisons, Bishop Rachel spoke in General Synod on GS2294A; a motion from Worcester, on the Contribution of faith to the Rehabilitation of Offenders. Read theContinue reading
Livestock, food and special guests at Royal Three Counties Show
Bishop Rachel joined record numbers of visitors at the Royal Three Counties show, with families journeying from across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and beyond to celebrate the best of the countrysideContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 20 June 2023
This Thursday will mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the passengers of the Empire Windrush to the UK, and a number of dioceses are hosting bishops from the Church in the Province of the West Indies.
Sportily’s summer residential camp is back
TRAC, Sportily’s annual five-day summer residential, is back and the team says it will be better than ever. With more children booked on than ever before, they are sure it’sContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 6 June 2023
We do a lot of counting in the Church, often related to numbers of people or leaders or amounts of money – and much of that can help us identify the places where we are healthy as Church and where we are not. In the shaping of our current strategies and plans, not least within each deanery, there is a need for some counting and measuring, yet always being aware that noticing and nurturing growth and health involves so much more than counting.
Bishop Rachel speaks out on Online Safety Bill
Bishop Rachel supported an amendment to the Online Safety Bill in the House of Lords seeking to protect women and girls online. Watch her full speech in the video belowContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 16 May 2023
It is nearly a year since bishops from all over the world gathered for the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury. Among the highlights for me were our small groups in which we met a couple of times each day; and a day at Lambeth Palace on one of the hottest days of the year, focusing on climate change and hearing stark stories of the devastating impact on the lives of people and places across our world. One of the many contributors to that day was Christian Aid.
Message from Bishop Rachel, 2 May 2023
Last week, Bishop Robert shared some reflections on the Coronation and the truth that ‘the formation of our society needs the participation of us all’. Now that the details of the Coronation have been made public, we can see that this is fully reflected in the liturgy and events of this weekend.
Bishop Rachel’s Chrism Eucharist sermon
Here you can read the full transcript from Bishop Rachel’s Chrism Eucharist sermon, on Thursday 6 April 2023. Readings: Revelation 1.5b-8 and Luke 7.36-50 Over these last couple of weeksContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, as published in the Citizen Easter 2023
Message from Bishop Rachel, as published in the Citizen Easter 2023
As I look around at our communities, country and world, I am aware of a sense of so much and so little in all the reporting of bad news….
Bishop Rachel’s itinerary during Holy Week and Easter 2023
The week before Easter, known as Holy Week, is a special time for Christians. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, when we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Then, onContinue reading
Invitation to special Coronation service at Gloucester Cathedral
As part of the Big Help Out day to celebrate the Coronation of The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, everybody is warmly invited to attend a special serviceContinue reading
Is sentencing effective for the offender? Pilot event with young people in Cheltenham
In partnership with All Saints Academy and the University of Gloucestershire, Bishop Rachel ran an event for Y11 and sixth form students exploring the sentences which are given for crimes.Continue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 21 March 2023
Last Saturday, many people from across the Diocese gathered for the inspiring and informative event, ‘Under fives and flourishing’. When introducing the event, and particularly thanking so many wonderful volunteers, I stated that creating spaces for under fives and their parents and carers is one of the most significant things we offer as followers of Christ.
Sportily celebrates this Easter with free family fun day
On Monday 3 April, the Sportily team from north Gloucester is offering five hours of family fun in an Easter celebration. All are invited to join Nathan and the SportilyContinue reading
Message from Bishop Rachel, 28 February 2023
I suspect that if you have given anything up for Lent it probably isn’t the mirror. Most of us during Lent will look in the mirror at least once a day, and I wonder if this in itself might be the reminder we need to allow Lent to be a time when we look beyond the surface of our external reflection and discover more of who we are within, and who God is, who knows us inside out and loves us.
Bishop Rachel responds to new measures to tackle domestic abuse
Domestic abusers will face tags and tougher management under new measures to protect people from harassment, aggression and violence, and focus on stopping domestic abuse before it takes place. ForContinue reading
House of Lords: Investing to reduce child poverty
Bishop Rachel asked a question in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill in the House of Lords about the importance of investing to reduce child poverty. Watch: “My Lords, I tooContinue reading
