Diocese of Gloucester
Description
The Church of England in and around Gloucestershire The Diocese of Gloucester is part of the Church of England and covers most of Gloucestershire, as well as parts of neighbouring counties. It is home to about 600 thousand people.
It ranges from small rural communities to the urban centres of Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud, and also includes market towns such as Cirencester and Stow-on-the-Wold. The main geographic areas are the Cotswolds running north to south through the Diocese, the Forest of Dean in the west and between them the Vale of Severn. Each of these areas has its own distinctive character. The diocese is divided into small units called parishes.
At the centre of the Diocese, in the county town of Gloucester, stands the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity. Originally founded as the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter in 679 the Abbey church became Gloucester Cathedral in 1541. Gloucester is particularly famous for being one of the earliest buildings to adopt the quintessentially English Perpendicular Style of Gothic Architecture in the 1330s.
The Diocese is led by the Right Reverend Michael Perham, the 40th Bishop of Gloucester, supported by the Bishop of Tewkesbury. The routine management of the clergy and parishes is overseen by two Archdeacons who in turn are supported by 15 Area Deans. Along with the Dean of the Cathedral and the Dean of Women Clergy, these people form the senior staff of the diocese.
In the Diocese the communities are served by some 327 parishes, 390 churches and 117 church schools. About 140 stipendiary clergy offer spiritual and pastoral care, together with retired and non-stipendiary clergy, Readers, local ministry teams and other lay ministers.
The Diocese has twinning links with the dioceses of Dornakal and Karnataka Central in the Church of South India, Västerås in Sweden, El Camino Real in California, USA, and Western Tanganyika in Tanzania. It is currently supporting the work of the Diocese of Western Tanganyika to build a new high school.
The Anglican churches work to develop close links with churches of other Christian denominations, and to build understanding with members of other faiths. The Diocese also has close ties with churches across the world and is linked with the dioceses of Dornakal and Karnataka Central in South India and Vasteras in Sweden, Western Tanganyika in Africa and El Camino Real in California, USA.
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facebook.comHappy day! What a joy to welcome seven new deacons at an amazing service at Gloucester Cathedral. Ordained deacon: Dan Browne, Robert Church, Janice Hamilton, Joy Ludlow, Helkias Mapimhidze, James Turk, and Julian Wilson
What an amazing, joyous service! Ordained priest: Anthea Beresford, Helen Caine, Deborah Curram, Ilse Ferwerda, Morag Langley, Simon Monk, Jo Pestell, Ed Sauven, Nina Summerfield, and Sarah Todd. (tag yourselves!)
"Five people gave their lives to Christ and many people received healing through prayer ministry" Find out more about what happened when churches worked together at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival: http://www.gloucester.anglican.org/2017/ourlifestory-by-wendy-ruffle-a-pioneer-minister-in-tewkesbury/
"Trust in God, that no matter what; God is, and God is there." “I think during very very difficult times… I’m a single mother …those moments, God has to work with me, and its worked well. Having twins on your own and going through the discernment process, and all these questions being thrown at you, I think if God wasn’t in it I wouldn’t be here today” The Revd Frances Quist tells us her story of ordination
Bishop Rachel met with 20 young people who were exploring their self-identity through poetry and photography, find out more - http://www.gloucester.anglican.org/2017/young-people-exploring-self-identity/
Imagination - encouraging new ways of worship Thornbury Churches Together held an open air worship event after the recent town Carnival. The theme of the Carnival was ‘Things that fly’ and everyone wrote their prayer for the community on a label and tied it to a helium balloon (biodegradable ones!). The balloons were then released all together at the ‘Amen’ of the Lord’s Prayer and they took off into the sky. Most of them went really high and looked lovely against the bright blue sky! The service was based on Isaiah 40.31,’ Those who wait on the Lord shall mount up with wings like eagles’ Thanks to Jan Van Der Lely, Vicar for Thornbury and Oldbury-on-Severn with Shepperdine for sharing this great story with us!
Congratulations to Jan van der Lely our Vicar in Thornbury, who took part in the Oldbury Fun Run raising money for ClicSargent and raising over £600. It was just under 4 miles and she managed to jog all the way in 36 minutes, 39 seconds. Jan said. "This was a great community event and i really enjoyed it. My wings caused a few amused remarks - and they slowed me down a little with wind resistance!
Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School has been awarded the Achievement for All Award: Primary Category at the Celebrating Every Child Awards - a national awards scheme that recognises and celebrates the achievement of children, young people, leaders and teachers...
"If there is a mould [for ordination candidates], I want to smash it!" Rachel Murray #OurLifeStory Watch the video here bit.ly/2tRjzPe Find out more about our young women's vocations event taking place on 18 November http://www.gloucester.anglican.org/event/young-women-gods-calling/
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