One of the priorities that Bishop Rachel and I share with the Archdeacons, is to spend time with benefices that are ‘in vacancy’ when we can. I don’t really like the word ‘vacancy’. It’s better than ‘interregnum’, between two ‘rulers’
Tag: Bishop Robert
Church of England unveils plan to become major provider of social housing nationally
The Church of England is taking steps to set up a national housing association which will enable the Church to become a major provider of social housing. It will pioneer a shared land management and development service to develop skills and capacity across its network of dioceses.
Message from Bishop Robert, 17 May 2022
A new feature of my recent visits to some of our schools has been to learn about how children and staff are welcoming Ukrainian children to their community. The hospitalityContinue reading
Easter Eve confirmations 2022
The evening before Easter, after sunset, a group of people who wanted to publically confirm their faith and trust in Jesus, gathered at Gloucester Cathedral for a confirmation service. BothContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 22 March 2022
On Monday last week, I found myself with a group of our clergy in the Greek Orthodox Church of Nablus in the Palestinian West Bank.
Eco Church in an Hour: Registration
Churchwarden Roger Eldridge looks after the stunning St Mary’s Church in Edgeworth which achieved a Bronze Eco Church Award on first registration for the scheme. Bishop Robert visited him toContinue reading
‘Save the Parish’: A response from Bishop Robert
It is to the parish church I owe fairly much all that I am. As a child taken to my parish church, I first heard the stories of the scripturesContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 1 February 2022
All our desire, all our intentions, will only be fruitful if they are rooted in a vision of the holiness of God.
Praying together for LIFE Together
Worshipping communities and individuals in and around Gloucestershire are invited to join in monthly prayers on Zoom for the work of the church in this area. “Do not worry aboutContinue reading
Christmas message from Bishop Robert, 14 December 2021
What a mess… Just when we thought we might have seen, if not the end, at least the worst of the pandemic, we have Omicron, and it seems we takeContinue reading
Video: Hardwicke site models housing pods
An innovative project in Hardwicke, Gloucestershire, could help to tackle the problem of a lack of affordable accommodation in local communities.
COP26 week 1
A summary of week 1, in the life of the overall conference and the Christian presence in Glasgow. Key announcements this week: An agreement has been made by mostContinue reading
A space to remember babies loved and lost
Bishop Robert visited Christ Church, Cheltenham to bless a special remembrance area in the church garden for Baby Loss Week. People from the local community who had been affected byContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert, 12 October 2021
Being a disciple of Jesus is an adventure – it can unsettle, challenge, disturb us but always leads to life.
You will read elsewhere in today’s Bulletin of the continuing invitation to be engaged with ‘Living in Love and Faith’ the teaching document which as Bishops we have prepared about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
Message from Bishop Robert, 28 September 2021
“If we did not already know that we were living in anxious times, it took only the news last Thursday that some 20 garages across the country had run out of fuel, to there being queues on Friday and by Sunday over half of garages closed. Most of us know, in our heads at least, that provided we all act wisely and don’t panic, there won’t be a problem…
Message from Bishop Robert
“But I have not done enough.” These words were said to me some years ago by a member of the congregation in the church of which I was the Rector, to explain why they could not go ahead and be confirmed. ‘I have not done enough… I don’t deserve it…’ of course, as I tried gently to explain, if any of us waited until we have done enough to be confirmed no one would ever be!
Message from Bishop Robert
Over 8 million people in this country live in overcrowded, unaffordable and sub-standard accommodation, I cannot but recognise that this is both an affront to human dignity and a challenge to act …
The Coming Home Report: Responding to Growth
Key thinkers in the Coming Home Report and the Church’s housing strategy met online to discuss the implications of the report and engage in a public Q&A. The Rt RevdContinue reading
The Coming Home Report: Responding to Growth
You are invited to meet with some of the key thinkers in the Coming Home Report and the Church’s housing strategy to explain the implications of the report and answerContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert
Next week, many of the communities of our Diocese will be taking part in fundraising for Christian Aid. This year’s campaign which runs alongside the vaccine thankfulness appeal and theContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert
Reflecting on the Panorama programme “Is the Church Racist?”
We need to say it clearly. Racism is a sin. It is an affront to the very nature of God who created us, each one of us, every one of us, with no exceptions, children of one blood… called to rejoice in one another.
Maundy Thursday: watch the Chrism service from Gloucester Cathedral
Our special Maundy Thursday Chrism service, streamed live from Gloucester Cathedral, is now available to watch below. We were joined, via Zoom and Facebook, by Clergy and Lay people fromContinue reading
Message from Bishop Robert: Maundy Thursday Chrism
Our Chrism Service, this coming Maundy Thursday, will again be different. Led from the Cathedral this year most of us will join from homes. Yet as always it will be poignant.
Message from Bishop Robert: Telling the story
“Sarah Everard’s murder has rightly brought anger that this should happen on our streets, a wave of sympathy and love for her and her family, and then with it, a cry of pain and anguish. Like Rachel, we are weeping in anguish for our children and cannot be comforted (Jeremiah 31).”
