On Thursday of this week it will be 40 days since Christmas and we mark the Feast of the Presentation, often referred to as Candlemas, when we recall Christ beingContinue reading
Month: January 2023
Ceremony marks Knife Angel’s month-long installation at Gloucester Cathedral
On Wednesday 1 February, at 6.15pm, Bishop Rachel will be part of a ceremony to mark the arrival of the Knife Angel at Gloucester Cathedral. The sculpture aims to raiseContinue reading
Using nature to reduce flood risk at Cam Hopton School
Expert engineers have created an innovative water management system to tackle a flooding problem at Cam Hopton Church of England Primary School. The hillside position of the school, situated aboveContinue reading
Shortcuts for completing your annual Energy Footprint Tool return
Tom Wood, from the national Church’s Research and Statistics Team, has created a practical video to demonstrate how to fill in the Energy Footprint Tool (below). Every church is askedContinue reading
Jane’s call to a new ministry
Jane’s creative approach to following her calling has transformed children’s and families’ provision in Lydney. In 2021, Jane Penny was employed as a lay Children and Families Minister in TidenhamContinue reading
St Mary’s Kempsford wins competition for The Longest Table
Last year, the worshipping community in Kempsford wanted to do something to support people struggling with isolation and bring them together. The Long Table seemed the perfect solution. The RevdContinue reading
Welcoming our new West Deaneries Youth Connector
In January 2023, we welcomed Charlotte Butcher to our Youth Connect Team as the new West Deaneries Youth Connector. Here is Charlotte’s introduction: “Hi, I’m Charlotte and I’ve been involvedContinue reading
Church of England appoints Julian Atkins as Net Zero Programme Director
Julian Atkins, currently the Countywide Climate Change Coordinator for the public sector partnership, Climate Leadership Gloucestershire, has been appointed Net Zero Programme Director for the Church of England. Having workedContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 24 January 2023
I was privileged last year to lead one of the first pilgrimages to the Holy Land after Israel reopened its boarders following the global pandemic. In contrast to previous pilgrimages, the Holy Sites were generally quiet – ours was the only group present in the chapel in Bethlehem where Jesus is traditionally thought to have been born. That quiet extended to another of our visits, like the vast majority of pilgrimages, to the Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem.
Funding for birdboxes – deadline end of February 2023
Keen birder Bill Richardson would like to put in a block funding application to provide birdboxes for churches and church partnerships in the Diocese of Gloucester. Worshipping communities can installContinue reading
The Revd Canon Andrew Zihni announced as next Dean of Gloucester
Gloucester Cathedral is delighted to share that No. 10 Downing Street has announced that His Majesty the King has approved the appointment of Andrew Zihni as the 39th Dean ofContinue reading
Bishop Rachel, statements on Living in Love and Faith
The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek said, “I want to reiterate my shame and sadness regarding the way those who identify as LGBTQI+ have too often experiencedContinue reading
A message from Bishop Rachel and Bishop Robert
Firstly, we want to reiterate our shame and sadness regarding the way those who identify as LGBTQI+ have too often experienced hostility and judgement within the Church rather than being cherished as members of the body of Christ with names and stories.
Bishops propose prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and for God’s blessing for same-sex couples
Under historic plans outlined today, same-sex couples will be able to come to church to give thanks for their civil marriage or civil partnership and receive God’s blessing
Message from Bishop Rachel, 17 January 2023
Yesterday, I had the privilege of being present at the official opening of The Nelson Trust’s Women’s Centre in Wales. Similar to the Women’s Centre in Gloucester, this provides transforming support for women who have been involved with the criminal justice system. Staff and volunteers work with women in a holistic way, listening to each person’s story and valuing them as a unique individual as they engage with the whole person, including the building and re-shaping of healthy relationships, often including a woman’s children.
“Being an Eco Church has become a part of life” at Pip and Jim’s Leckhampton
In August 2022, St Philp and St James Church Leckhampton was awarded a Bronze Eco Church Award by A Rocha and is now working towards Silver. Helen Wolfson, a memberContinue reading
“Keeping the stories alive” – Holocaust Memorial Day 2023
‘Ordinary People’ is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2023. This year, Bob Copeland, who has organised Holocaust Memorial Day events in the community for the pastContinue reading
Bishop Rachel: ONE Women’s Centre is ‘good news’ for women prisoners
At the end of last year, the Nelson Trust opened a Women’s Centre in HMP Eastwood Park, an innovative new pilot funded by the Ministry of Justice ‘Local Leadership andContinue reading
Pay-as-you-can café welcomes community in St Andrew’s, Churcham
In 2019, the Revd Lara Bloom and members of St Andrew’s, Churcham got together to pray about ways to build community in the village. After a couple of trial runsContinue reading
Sportily brings community together at Christmas event
Christmas is a time for community, and this was really felt in the Forest of Dean as Sportily hosted a rustic, family-focused campfire and carols event with lots of marshmallowsContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 10 January 2023
A number of us from across the diocese were pleased to be able to gather on Friday in the Cathedral to express our thanks to Canon Andrew Braddock for 14 years of ministry in this diocese.
Warm spaces in the Diocese this winter
Many churches and community buildings are opening up during the week to offer warm spaces this winter. People looking to get out of the cold can drop in to anyContinue reading
Statistics for Mission for 2022
The Statistics for Mission 2022 return is now available for completion on the parish returns website. The deadline for completing this return is 31 March 2023. Please also complete yourContinue reading
Caring for our communities’ mental health
One in four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. And nearly 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems say thatContinue reading
