Reading: Luke 14.25–33 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, 26‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers
Month: August 2025
Holding the key, podcast episode 11: Junior Smart OBE, founder of SOS Project
In this episode of Holding the Key, Bishop Rachel, the Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons speaks to Junior Smart OBE. Junior Smart is a youth violence consultant, trainer, and someone
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
Neurodiversity in ministry: embracing our extraordinary differences
Both lay and ordained ministry can provide unique challenges at the best of times – but how much greater are those challenges when we may perceive reality itself differently to
Open The Gospel – 31 August: Trinity 11, Luke 14.1, 7-14
Reading: Luke 14.1, 7-14 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching
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
Open The Gospel – 24 August: Trinity 10, Luke 13.10-17
Reading: Luke 13.10-17 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years.
Connect Blog: Making sense of Generation Alpha
Senior Connector Barrie Voyce reflects on Generation Alpha. I’ve been around youth work a while. I started when I was 18, and with only a few years “in the real
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
Open The Gospel – 17 August: Trinity 9, Luke 12.49-56
Reading: Luke 12.49-56 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress
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
