St Mary Redcliffe Church - A Year at Redcliffe 2018

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Welcome 2
LEADERSHIP
Vicar’s Review 3
Associate Vicar’s Review 5
From the Senior Churchwarden 7
From the Junior Churchwarden 9
CHURCH GOVERNANCE
From the PCC Secretary 10
Electoral Roll 11
PCC Finances 12
Stewardship Campaign 15
Church Lands Charity 16
From the Operations Manager 18
Deanery Synod 20
Diocesan Synod 21
DEVELOPMENT
Project 450 22
Redcliffe Way Update 24
BUILDING and FABRIC
Fabric Report 25
The Vestment Team 26
From the Church Architect 28
Canynges Society 29
WORSHIP and CHURCH GROUPS
Readers, Intercessions and Offertory 30
Servers 31
Administrants 31
Guild of Ringers 32
Tea and Coffee 34
MUSIC
From the Director of Music 35
WELCOMING ALL
Sidesmen 36
Stewards 37
Doors Open Day 38
Treefest 39
DISCIPLESHIP
Seekers: Escape from the Pew! 40
Vocations Group 41
Parish Weekend 42
EDUCATION and YOUNG PEOPLE
Sunday School 43
From the Education Officer 45
St Mary Redcliffe Primary School 49
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School 51
OUTREACH and SOCIAL ACTION
Faithspace 52
Parish Christmas Cards 53
Churches Winter Night Shelter 54
OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
Safeguarding 55
Parish Magazine 56
Mothers’ Union 58
The Pipe Walk 59
Christmas Puddings 60
Journey into Science 61
Pot Luck Lunches 62
CONTACTS
back
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elcome to A Year at Redcliffe 2018, our annual review of life at St Mary
Redcliffe Church over the past twelve months.
This booklet includes updates and reports from the many groups, activities and
organisations associated with the church, and provides a snapshot of the
diverse and fascinating life of this community and the magnificent building we call home. We
hope you find it enjoyable as well as informative. It’s not fully exhaustive and there’s a lot more
to discover in the weekly pew leaflets, monthly Parish Magazine (in print and online), on our
website at www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk, and via our Twitter updates.
If you’d like to keep up to date with everything that’s happening at the Church, why not sign
up to receive our e-newsletter by visiting http://bit.ly/smrnewsletter
St Mary Redcliffe Church
April 2018
Chris Duncan
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or those who have been at SMR for the last four years you
may be aware that I always start these annual letters with
our vision statement. It seems right to return to these
words on a regular basis and to check that they still have
‘life’ within them and that are actions are aligned to those words.
From your perspective, can you see these words coming to life
within SMR? For those who have been here for four years we also
know that we are spending a lot For those who have been at SMR
for the last five years you may have become familiar with my
annual contribution to ‘A Year at Redcliffe’ opening with our
Vision Statement: the one that starts with “St Mary Redcliffe is
steeped in history and the people are rightly proud of that
heritage…”. However, during the course of 2017 this descriptive narrative has been distilled into a
more memorable paragraph:
St Mary Redcliffe
Singing the Song of Faith and Justice
as a thriving, inclusive Christian community
as a recognised, welcoming heritage destination
and as a church that makes a difference in the parish
animated by a progressive and sustainable organisation.
The keen eyed among us will note that the third element of this has recently changed from “an
effective parish church”. Too often we were having to explain that this did not mean “an effective
parish office” but “being effective within the parish”. And very recently, technically outside the scope
of this report on the year 2017, we have come to realise the need to acknowledge and even celebrate
the reality that our desired outcomes (being a thriving Christian community, a welcoming heritage
destination and a church that makes a difference) are dependent on having an excellent back-office
function: hence the addition of that final line. Over the course of this year we intend to look
forward to 2024 (the 450 th anniversary of the visit of Queen Elizabeth) and 2031 (I’ll be 70 that
year: the age at which the Church of England requires me to retire) and to visualize what SMR will
be like and thus us to begin to plan for that future.
We are constantly monitoring the balance of these three mission priorities and this year’s report
to the Charity Commission on the work of St Mary Redcliffe Parochial Church Council suggests
that we are holding this tension quite well. The activities of the PCC this year include:
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- the parish weekend
- our Sunday School numbers reached 100 children on the books
- we continue to review the form of worship for our main Sunday Eucharist
- 7 members of the congregation were officially commissioned as Lay Leaders of Worship
- alldaybreakfast hosted an installation on Doors Open Day inviting people to reflect on
the realities of historic slavery, modern day slavery and human trafficking underneath
our Edward Colston window
- we raised funds to employ a Community Youth Worker
- we joined HeartEdge, a model of funding churches through congregational giving,
commercial interest, cultural events and charitable activity
- we continued to explore whether the Hogarth altarpiece ‘Sealing the Tomb’ should be
part of our major development plans:
- we became alert to GDPR and have bought a new database
- we hosted 4 nights for Bristol Churches Winter Night shelter
- our Parish Safeguarding Officer handed over the role to someone else
- we have reviewed our insurance in relation to terrorism and cyber-crime
- we have acquired BrowseAloud software to provide multiple options to access the content
of our website
2017 saw little movement for any of the three major development projects that I am involved in.
That doesn’t mean that little was happening: it’s just that the work we have been doing has either
come to nothing (like the bid for funding to assist us with our own north side development plans)
or is waiting on someone else to do their bit (like the work to move forward the Redcliffe Way
development). I am increasingly confident that all three developments will see large strides in 2018.
The conversations with our Methodist friends about the FaithSpace Centre (making a difference
in the parish) should be shaped into a clear vision by the end of this year. Our own Project 450
(welcoming heritage destination) is facing a significant challenge about the scope of a new building
which I hope will be resolved this year. Finally, Redcliffe Way started 2018 with a new consultant
seeking to find the best development partner to work the Delivery Board. I truly hope that, this
time next year, I will have real progress to report.
I continue to be amazed and thankful: amazed by the privilege of serving as the incumbent of this
wonderful church at this extraordinary time, and thankful to be surrounded by partners in mission
(ordained and lay, salaried and volunteers) who embrace God’s calling on us to be and to become:
a thriving, inclusive Christian community
a recognised, welcoming heritage destination
and a church that makes a difference in the parish
Revd Dan Tyndall
Vicar
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s always, one of the great pleasures of my role is
getting to work with so many wonderful people
– so a lot of the projects I have spent my time on
over 2017 have been covered elsewhere in this
report. However there are some particular highlights that
I’d like to share, and projects that may not be covered be
others.
We had, once again, a wonderful cohort of baptisms,
admission to communion candidates, and particularly a
huge group of confirmands at the end of the year whom it
was a delight to present to the bishop. It has been a great pleasure working with Becky Macron
supporting the Sunday School and seeing it grow and flourish, and with her and Dean Barry to
recruit some children to the serving team. With the all-age focus of the parish weekend being so
well received, it really feels like our children and families are becoming integrated into our church
community so much better, and we are all benefitting from that.
The 2017 Lent Appeal supporting Temwa was a great success, it was fantastic to be working with
a charity that benefitted people overseas but had such a strong Bristol support base.
2017 has been a year of exciting developments in our community work. With the help of Vivid,
advising us on our community engagement for Project 450, we have been looking at new ways of
working together with the local community and enabling things to happen in Redcliffe. Building
on Hannah Currant’s excellent work of bringing together professionals who work in the local
community once a month, we are now working closely with Bristol City Council’s Community
Development team on a project called Redcliffe Treasures. This project is about creating spaces
where local people can come together and talk about their passions, their skills and interests, so
that new ideas and projects can emerge from who and what is already here – like uncovering
hidden treasure. Hannah left us in May 2017 and her replacement will start in May 2018. Within
the community, at the start of the year I took on the role of Trustee of Dr Whites, and at end of the
year after three years as a governor and a term as acting Chair, I stood down as a governor of
Redcliffe Children’s Centre and Nursery to take on the role of governor at St Mary Redcliffe
Primary School at the start of 2018.
A particular highlight of the year came at the very beginning with the first Bristol Churches Winter
Night Shelter, of which we were a founding member. For a trial period of 4 weeks in January and
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February, once a week we opened the doors of Faithspace to up to 12 homeless men who would
otherwise have been sleeping rough on our streets. We had a fantastic response from volunteers,
who prepared the hall and the meal, and who hosted the guests, offering not just a safe and warm
place for the night but friendship and hospitality. It was a very moving experience for all of us.
Particular thanks to Keith Donoghue, who co-ordinated our venue and team.
In 2017 it was agreed that my original four-year tenure, due to end in September 2018, would be
extended by two more years, and I’m really pleased that I’m able to stay with you at SMR until
2020. Thank you for all your support and encouragement in my ministry.
Revd Kat Campion-Spall
Associate Vicar
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eflecting on a third year as a Churchwarden, now nearly
past, it feels to have been as busy as the previous ones. I
sometimes wonder, however, if an outside observer
viewing life at the church would note any significant
change. Perhaps this is the point; SMR is like a rock, unchanging,
offering its glorious perpendicular gothic style as a place of worship,
peace and sanctuary over very many generations in an oftentroubled
world.
It is our role, as temporary custodians, to ensure that this is
maintained for the current generation and into the distant future.
There is in fact a lot of activity under the surface. Governance has been strengthened and
communication improved with the overhaul of the committee structure and the formation of a
Joint Liaison Group (JLG) comprising Dan and Kat, the Churchwardens and the Chair and Vice-
Chair of the Church Lands Charity as its principal members. It is a vehicle for strategic planning
and enables the PCC and Vestry to work harmoniously together.
The PCC meets regularly acting as true council to the leadership team and is the decision making
body for the Church. Keith Donoghue as PCC secretary ensures that the PCC functions smoothly,
and David Harrowes as PCC Treasurer, working closely with our accountants Hollingdale Pooley,
has done much to ensure that the finances and budgeting are on a strong footing. My thanks to
members of the PCC for a good year.
The Parish Office, under our Operations Manager, Peter Rignall oversees the complicated day to
day running of the numerous activities at SMR. He has recently been joined by Evelyn Burton-
Guyett as Administration Executive, and Pat Terry and Ros Houseago complete a strong team.
There is much work to do and Peter is heavily engaged drafting the business plan. Such things as
the new church database and meeting GDPR requirements also take up much time. The Verging
team conduct their work with good humour and of course we are blessed with many, many
volunteers whose work is often unrecognised but essential.
I am very pleased that new appointments have been made for the Community Development
Worker and Youth Worker and we can look forward to welcoming Rachel Varley and David
Cousins in the next few weeks. I am hopeful that this will enable SMR to reach out to the local
Redcliffe community, strengthen ties and foster partnerships in growing the Redcliffe community.
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Other good work has been the Night Shelter scheme, extended to six weeks this year, Treefest, and
the Lent appeal, working with the charity Unseen, aiming to eliminate modern-day slavery.
The Vestry (Church Lands Charity) has been core to funding ongoing maintenance of the fabric
of the Church and providing much expert advice. It is undergoing structural change with a written
constitution for the first time in its history (dating back to the 1490’s) to bring it in line with
modern day good practice. Five long standing members - John Pickard, Marcus Ashman, Alan
Roberts, Dudley Shellard and Andrew Morgan are standing down this Easter and represent 147
years of service between them. They will be greatly missed but the work will be continued and
picked up under the new Chair, Rob Tyley, and Vice Chair, John Dunn.
Work on the Development Project, now known as Project 450, is ongoing with consultations,
investigations and the business plan starting to be brought together. Work has been undertaken
on reframing the aims and objectives of the project. Precedent visits have been made in recent
months to discover the lessons and pitfalls of other similar schemes. A decision will be required
very soon on the timing of an HLF bid. It is my hope (if re-elected as Churchwarden!) that I will
see all this work culminate in a project with clear outcomes and timelines during my final year of
office as Churchwarden.
Last, and very much not least, Dan and Kat have held us all together spiritually and with good
leadership. As the ‘laity’ we need to be supportive of their ministry.
We are a strong team; with God’s blessing, I look forward to another rewarding year at St Mary
Redcliffe.
Richard James
Senior Churchwarden
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t has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as junior
warden at SMR for the past year. There has been quite a
learning curve at times but it has been an incredibly
rewarding year and I would like to thank Richard, Dan
and Kat in particular for their support, patience and sense of
humour as I have learned the role.
There have been two stand-out points for me from the last year,
that I wanted to share with you. The first has been to have the
opportunity to speak with and get to know many of you. Not
only at the widely-acclaimed parish weekend (and I hope to see even more of us there in 2019!)
but every week at services, at meetings, at prayer. It is the privilege of a warden to be touched by
so many of you who make up the wider SMR community and one I have cherished.
The second has been to get under the skin of what makes SMR the church and the community it
is. There are many staff and volunteers who work incredibly hard to keep SMR running and to
dream-up, organise and clean up after all the things we do. Many of them will tell you in their own
words all that they do and have done over the past year in the following pages and I know you will
join me in thanking them for their dedication (spanning years of service in some cases) and
achievements.
I would like to give a special thank you and acknowledgment for the work that often happens
behind the scenes to keep the church building and artefacts clean, organised and in good repair
and to deal with the administrative demands (which must at times seem almost overwhelming) in
not only running SMR as parish church, place of worship and building but also in supporting us
as we face new challenges ranging from development proposals to changing data protection laws!
Thank you, and where would we be without you?
I hope, like me, you look back at 2017 and feel justly proud at all that we have done and inspired
at all we can achieve in the year ahead.
Elizabeth Shanahan
Junior Churchwarden
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The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary, Redcliffe.
Registered Charity No. 1134120
his is my first report as Secretary to the Parochial Church Council at St Mary Redcliffe
and it has been as sharp a learning curve for me as for any new member of the Council
since, in addition to time-honoured activities, we have all had to get our heads around
new procedures such as those relating to safeguarding and data protection.
In no particular order, meetings have discussed the Development Project, schools, finance,
safeguarding, HeartEdge, Hogarth, youth and community workers, heritage assets, data
protection, community development and engagement, insurance, Colston and governance and
several other matters.
So far as governance is concerned considerable time and effort has been taken to establish
processes which equip SMR for its twenty-first century role and enable it to effect the challenging
mission it has adopted. As a product of this the Standing Committee of the Council has met
regularly to undertake day to day functions and decision making and effective committees
empowered to relate to Redcliffe’s many activities.
Over the years I have served many meetings and some of them have begun, sometimes
begrudgingly, with prayers. All of the meetings of the PCC and its committees have begun and
ended with prayer and whilst, during those meetings, conversation may become robust, I have
reflected upon the motivation and commitment of all those who have contributed and the
“prayerful” nature of the way in which work has been undertaken.
I therefore have no hesitation in expressing deep gratitude to all who have helped me through my
first year as Secretary and look forward with some enthusiasm to the future.
Keith Donoghue
PCC Secretary
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his year the Electoral Roll has increased from last year’s figure of 296 to 318 with 30 new
people added and 8 removed (7 deceased). Five of the new people and two of the deaths
were resident in the Parish, bringing the total of Parish residents on the Roll up from 41
to 44. However, this is the last year of the six-year cycle during which many people
remain on the Roll although, for one reason or another, they no longer worship with us. If we
compare figures since 1990 we see a steady long-term decline with each successive cycle, with a fall
of nearly 50% over the 18 years.
The following names were added to the Roll since last year: Gareth Archer, Mrs Natasheya Archer,
Mr Paul Bassett, Anna Rachel Brooke, Evelyn Burton-Guyett (name changed), Mrs Care Cornish,
Dr Charlotte Crofts, Mr Ian Dawes, Mrs Kirsten Dawes, Miss Leanne Jane Deady, Mr Marc
Eschauzier, Miss Kirstie Gillies, Miss Megan Yvonne Gibson, Ms Wendy Gillman, Mrs Christine
Hagan-Bassett, Dr Douglas Robert Heller, Mrs Susan Heller, Mr Adam Hoyle King (name
changed), Mr Bruno Hunt, Mrs Iryna Hunt, Emily James, Mr Adam David Lloyd, Dr Peter
Morgan, Mr Jakob Piatkowski, Mr Jonathon Michael Ross, Mrs Mary Ross, Dr Gabriella Snook,
Mrs Bree Templar, Mr Paul Vincent, Mr Richard Alexander Wallace, Mrs Jacqueline Ann Walters,
and Elizabeth Western.
The following names were removed: Mrs Janet Allen, Mr William Barwell, Mr Philip Burnett, Miss
Shirley Canvin, Mrs Joyce Garland, Miss Evelyn Guyett (name changed), Mr Adam King (name
changed), Mr Jeremy Knight, Mrs Valerie Sage, and Mr Keith E.J. Willcocks.
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Ken Petrie
Electoral Roll Officer

he summarised accounts on the following pages are complete, but remain subject to a
report from our Independent Examiner and approval by the PCC.
In financial terms we have seen a good result, with voluntary income increasing by
almost 7%, thanks in part to a most generous legacy. Despite cost increases from our
expanding activities, we were accordingly able to maintain our Parish Share of £117,500, which
exceeds by a margin the maximum normal contribution sought by our Diocese. We have also
committed the same figure for 2018.
In organisational terms, change and transition have become routine as we review our systems and
processes in order to prepare operationally for our major development project, now known as
Project 450. Blessed as we are with generous backing both from today’s voluntary donors and from
trust funds set up in the past, it’s now our destiny to step into a league of bigger players. This means
that we will be adopting much modern business practice. This is not only essential for the Project,
but is in my view also a vital ingredient in driving forward our Christian mission.
A number of structural changes have been made to the PCC committee structure. One of them is
the absorption of the Resources Committee into the Finance Committee; there is accordingly no
Resources report this year.
David Harrowes
PCC Treasurer
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Please note that this is an ‘abstract’ of the accounts, intended to highlight some of the key points.
It is not an official statement. For this please refer instead to the published formal Annual Report
and Financial Statements as filed with the Charity Commission.
St Mary Redcliffe
Simplified Accounts Presentation 2017 2016
Voluntary Giving
Planned Giving 86,579 81.072
Collections (open plate) 22,898 19,042
Static box collections 14,240 12,942
Other 37,917 23,659
161,634 136,715 Temple Ecclesiastical Grant excluded
Other Income
Telephone Mast Income 12,666 8,972
Investment Income 3,903 2,820
Church Fees (Net) 11,836 11,060
Vestry Grants 10,500 13,000
Other 21,250 24,433
60,155 60,285
Expenditure
Diocesan Quota (Parish Share) 117,500 117,500
Office Costs 28,044 29,404
Charitable Giving 3,000 3,000
Salaries (Education Officer /
Redcliffe Care) 9,463 6,958
Other 60,425 44,604
218,432 201,466
Temple Ecclesiastical Grant excluded
from this figure
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Reserves 2017 2016
Reserves Brought Forward 62,733 88,430
Total Income 288,671 196,989
Total Expenditure (285,223) (201,466)
Architecture Competition (10,000) (10,000)
Church Centre (FaithSpace) 0 (11,691)
Other 461 511
Reserves (At Year End) 56,682 62,773
Shown in accounts as Transfer to
Restricted Funds
Shown in accounts as Transfer to
Restricted Funds
Churchwarden's Subscription
Account 22,910 22,910
Total unrestricted reserves 79,592 85,683
Development Costs (Restricted
Income)
Temple Ecclesiastical 9,234 15,000
St Mary Redcliffe CLC 0 60,000
St Mary Redcliffe PCC 0 10,000
Canynges Society 76,200 0
Other 0 108
85,434 85,108
Development Costs
(Expenditure) 33,571 64,186
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he 2017 Supporting Redcliffe campaign featured the desire to provide a youth worker for
the young people of the South Redcliffe area, one of the most deprived neighbourhoods
in England. The PCC had committed itself to finding £7,500 towards the project.
The campaign was launched on 24th April with letters going out to everyone on the Electoral Roll
and others, a special sermon being preached at the 9:30 Eucharist and a visit by myself to the
Sunday School to speak to the parents there. We asked everyone to respond by letting us know
whether or not they could increase their giving and we were grateful to all who did. As usual,
responses went directly to the Planned Giving Recorder who was the only person to know
individual people’s circumstances. In 2017 we were very pleased to have the services of Talvir
Singh in that rôle and I’m sure we would all like to record our thanks to him.
As a result of that confidentiality it is more complicated than might be expected for those planning
Stewardship matters to assess exactly how successful we have been, especially as volunteer
Recorders have limited time in which to undertake what can be a very intensive job at times.
However, it is gratifying to note that the combined total of Planned Giving and Gift Aid increased
in 2017 by about £8,500. Although this is a net figure, it is still a highly encouraging result bearing
in mind that:
1. the campaign started two-thirds of the way through the year and
2. a proportion of the longer-standing members of our Church community leave us for
various reasons each year,
so it is likely giving increased by more than that, offset against a fall as a result of others dropping
out. In 2018 the function of Recorder/Gift Aid Officer has been brought into the Parish Office in
the expectation this will improve the flow of aggregate information without impairing
confidentiality.
By the time you read this the 2018 Supporting Redcliffe campaign will be underway, focussing on
the need to equip ourselves with effective facilities to meet 21 st century expectations. Please
continue to support us generously. Thank you.
Ken Petrie
Stewardship Chair
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aka “The Vestry”
Registered Charity No. 211109
he Vestry’s financial year starts on 6th April and the first meeting called the Easter
Vestry, enabled the Trustees to carry on the long held tradition of meeting in the room
above the North Porch to confirm internal appointments and professional advisors. The
Trustees then joined members of the Greater Vestry (retired Vestrymen) and
professional advisors, stand for the National Anthem and process around the Church, At Easter
2017 Margaret Cartledge retired as a Trustee after giving so generously of her time and expertise,
and joined the Greater Vestry.
This year after two years as Chair, I step down and subject to passing the resolution at the Easter
Vestry, Rob Tyley will be appointed Chair and a new Vice Chair will be appointed.
The 16 Trustees have an amazing 207 years of service to the charity between them, and I thank
them most sincerely for their support, time, professional expertise and skill that they give so freely
– we are indeed a fortunate long established charity. Some of the Trustees worship regularly at
SMR and others worship elsewhere.
During the year, four full Trustee meetings were held; the Vicar and Junior Warden invited to
attend. One recent change towards our constitution is that the Vicar and Church Wardens are
invited to be ex-officio Trustees for the length of their appointment, and we are delighted that they
have accepted. The Vestry Clerk attends full meetings and records the minutes. Each meeting has
particular focus; in July, the annual accounts were approved, in November the emphasis is on the
Fabric and other expenditure, in January the emphasis is on income and in March the budget is
set for the coming year. There are a number of committees, and each Trustee serves on at least
one committee or sub-committee. The Finance & General Purposes Committee and Investment
Committee are Trustees only, and within these there are sub committees. Insurance, Personnel
and Fabric committees are joint committees with the PCC. The Chair of the vestry is also invited
to attend the Development Project meetings.
During this year, a small sub group of trustees has been reviewing the governance of our working
document “The Way we Operate” (TWWO) and under the expert leadership of John Dunn and
our professional specialist charity lawyer, and with advice from the Charity Commission,
enormous progress has been made towards the formal constitution. The operating manual is
under review. The core skills of Trustees have been analysed and succession planning is in hand.
Our aim is to ensure the charity continues its valuable work within its objects and supports St Mary
Redcliffe well into the future.
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Under the current terms of appointment five Trustees are due to retire shortly, and we are
delighted they will join the Greater Vestry, continuing friendships that have been made over the
years, and enabling the Trustees to continue to draw on their expertise. We thank them all for
their wonderful contribution over the years.
Mary Nichols
Chair
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he Operations team welcomed two new members during the last twelve months, our
new Office Executive, Evelyn Burton-Guyett and for a brief period our intern Freddy
Herrod.
Evelyn’s role, with the continued support of Ros and Pat (our Admin Assistants) has
enabled the operation to move forward priority areas including our Health and Safety
responsibilities, security (both the churches and personal security) and increased management and
control of the organisations finances.
Evelyn has also provide space within the team for development of a Business Plan for both the
organisation and supporting the Project 450 development. The Business plan is helping to bring
focus and structure around our activities to help us achieve our goals, mission and supporting our
vision for St Mary Redcliffe.
New Church Database
Unfortunately Freddy was with a shorter period of time than hoped but his time with us set a good
foundation for the continuing work to move us over to our new church database. Freddy’s absence
has caused a slow-down in database activity; plans are in place to pick up speed to achieve fuller
implementation by early summer.
Data Protection
The team also continue to work to make sure we are compliant with changes to data protection
legislation (GDPR) coming into effect in May 2018.
The Church and our Vergers
The Verger team continue to support and manage all aspects of service and visitor experience in
church. Working hard to make sure the day to day operation is effective and the experience for
our visitors is of a high standard. The vergers continue to work closely with the teams of volunteers,
stewards, sidesmen, vestment and flower teams making sure all aspects of the church are presented
and managed to their best advantage.
Our cleaner Sally works tirelessly brushing, polishing, hoovering, tidying, removing candle grease
and rushes all to make sure the church is ‘re-set’ in readiness for the following day’s activities.
Often overlooked but nonetheless a vital service for us.
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Our Visitors
Over the year we have welcomed in excess of 50,000 visitors from all over the UK and the world.
The following chart may help to show the breadth of where our visitors come from.
Events
The Verger team continued to support concerts, performances and exhibitions in church, ranging
from our traditional services at Christmas, Lent, Easter, through Rush Sunday to the enlightening
Reformation Exhibition and Doors Open Day with various concerts and performances in between.
We welcomed classical/Spanish guitarist James Watson, Age UK and the 50 strong Bristol
Symphony orchestra, a pet blessing service for the RSPCA (Bristol) 130th anniversary, most
recently Bath Camerata and many other performers and choirs. We also welcomed back the Bristol
Old Vic Theatre School graduation ceremony and TEMWA (lent charity 2017) concert. In all we
welcomed and supported in excess of 40 concerts, performances and events in addition to our own
services and events.
We also welcomed the BCC with members of the congregation taking part in the Forgotten Blitz
series shown on the BBC. Relating their experiences and stories of Redcliffe and on occasions the
role the church itself played.
Repairs and maintenance
Over the last 12 months we have seen completion of various aspects of the church repaired and
refreshed including but not limited to the Bell Frame, South Roof lead repairs and securing St
John’s Chapel windows.
2018/19
For the year ahead we continue to make sure our colleagues are trained and supported by robust
Health and Safety policies and process, we comply with all necessary aspects legislation and policy,
we have greater immediate visibility and control of our finances, our new database is fully
implemented, we have a Business Plan to help us support and move forward to our vision and all
our visitors have an positive and hopefully exceptional experience with us at St Mary Redcliffe.
Peter Rignell
Operations Manager
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he Deanery Synod held three meetings in 2017, all of which were open for anyone
interested in the subject being presented to attend, although formal business is, of
course, restricted to Synod members.
2017 being an election year for Deanery Synods, the first meeting on 9th March was
actually the final meeting of the previous Synod, and the other two meetings, on 8th June and 5th
October, were of the current Synod.
The March meeting received reports about the Commissioning Service (held at Redcliffe) at which
40 people were commissioned for various rôles in parishes around the Deanery, plans for a
Christian Aid Deanery walk, and a prayer request mission called the Turning which was due to
start last April. There were also reports on four mission initiatives being carried out by local
parishes: The Special Offer at St Luke’s, Sunday Sessions at St Paul’s, SPARC (St Peter’s Activity
and Resource Centre) and Cafe Church, also at St Peter’s. Chris Priddy, Head of Parish and
External Relations at the Diocese then spoke about the Creating Connections vision under the
headings: Connecting with God, Connecting with our communities, and Connecting with each
other.
The main business in June was a discussion about homelessness with contributions from Jonathan
Lee of Crisis Centre Ministries, Ben Ellis of the Salvation Army, Richard Hawkridge of Bristol City
Council and Alison Haynes from St Francis, Bedminster. A thorough consideration of the issue
from varying perspectives took place, including what was being done to help people and
controlling social tensions which could arise when people are desperate.
The October meeting was used as the Bristol South meeting for the Diocesan consultation on
required qualities for the next Bishop of Bristol.
For those interested in knowing about these meetings in more detail, full minutes are available of
the first two and the resulting profiles of the Diocese and its expectations of the next Bishop can
be found on the Diocesan website.
Other Deanery activities continue, namely the Word and Spirit Services on the first Sunday
evening of every month at a different church each time and the quarterly Leadership Brunches at
St Peter’s.
Ken Petrie
Deanery Synod Representative
20

he Diocesan Synod met three times in 2017, on 4th March, 10th June, and 11th
November. A two-minute silence was observed on 11th November.
The March synod reviewed the current structure of the Synod and heard a consensus
view from leaders that it was working well. A question was asked by Carys Underdown
about the Diocese’s plans to further conversations exploring issues around “the Archbishops’ call
for a radical new inclusion.” The Bishop of Bristol replied that he thought this Diocese should
await rather than pre-empt the House of Bishops’ response, and that he would consult our General
Synod Representatives and commended the issue to our prayers. Professor Grace Davie was invited
to address the Synod on Making disciples in our changing social and political context.
The main items at the June synod were responses to two reports from the National level. We
adopted the policy statement Promoting a Safer Church and considered a summary of an
independent audit of safeguarding arrangements undertaken by The Social Care Institute for
Excellence. We also had our attention drawn to the Archbishops’ Council report Setting God’s
People Free, which calls for two shifts in Church culture:
1. Until, together, ordained and lay, we form and equip lay people to follow Jesus confidently
in every sphere of life in ways that demonstrate the Gospel we will never set God’s people free to
evangelise the nation.
2. Until laity and clergy are convinced, based on their baptismal mutuality, that they are equal
in worth and status, complementary in gifting and vocation, mutually accountable in discipleship,
and equal partners in mission, we will never form Christian communities that can evangelise the
nation.
November was largely taken up by formal business involving approval of the 2018 budget and
proposals for the representation ratios at the 2018 Diocesan elections. There was an exciting report
on The Deanery CE Academy, the new Church school currently being built in Swindon. I asked a
question about the relationship between Deanery Synod Rules and the practical operation of
deaneries, which uses different terminology and is therefore potentially confusing. The
Archdeacon was satisfied there is no risk of confusion.
As already mentioned, 2018 is an election year for Diocesan Synod, with nominations in June.
Currently, Redcliffe punches well above its weight with three-quarters of the Deanery’s lay
representatives. Please pray about whether you wish to stand or nominate someone for the
triennium commencing this autumn.
21
Ken Petrie
Diocesan Synod Member, Bristol South

n last year’s A Year at Redcliffe, I reported that, following an unsuccessful bid to the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) for Resilient Heritage funding, which it was hoped would provide
around £100,000 in financial support for project planning, the church had undergone a
tendering process to appoint consultants to carry out a series of project workstreams that had
been defined by our lead consultants Purcell.
While the church failed with its Resilient Heritage bid, project work has been able to continue
thanks to the generous support of our three associated charities: The Church Lands Charity,
Temple Ecclesiastical Charity and The Canynges Society. As a result of this support, appointments
were made at the beginning of last summer and, since then, work has been ongoing.
The workstreams were designed by Purcell to prepare the church for a Round One bid to the HLF
for Heritage Grant funding of up to £5 million, and are as follows:
A Heritage Asset Review
To catalogue the church’s non-fixed heritage assets and assess their significance
An Interpretation and Learning Strategy
To build on the Asset Review findings by developing ideas for how the church’s heritage
assets, stories and themes might be best presented to the public
Community Consultation and Engagement Plan
To look at how the church’s project can engage the local community, create opportunities
for learning and skills development and meet HLF requirements for people and
communities
Business and Organisational Plan
To explore opportunities for increasing the church’s visitor numbers, as well as the options
for improving income to build a sustainable future.
Feasibility Study
To look at how the outcomes of the various pieces of work can be physically accommodated
on site, using an options appraisal to identify a preferred option and establish the overall
scope of the project
Funding Strategy
To develop a realistic strategy to ensure the eventual proposals can be funded, looking at
funding options and helping to inform the strategy for any HLF bid
The Heritage Asset Review – carried out by Rita McLean and Jane Arthur (respectively, former
Director and former Head of Collections at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery) was
completed in early autumn 2017 and resulted in a fascinating report, which can be read online via
the church website or requested from The Parish Office.
22

Imagemakers – a creative design consultancy working in the heritage sector – is currently in the
process of developing interpretative concepts based on the findings of the Asset Review,
information provided by our honorary archivist Anne Bradley and our own research.
Vivid Regeneration – a local organisation that works with the community to deliver sustainable,
regeneration projects – was appointed to work on community consultation in relation to the
project. This work will be completed during the next month, coinciding with the arrival of the
church’s new Community Development Worker.
The church’s Operations Manager, Peter Rignall, is busy working on a Business and Organisational
Plan, which will analyse local, national and international markets to identify opportunities for
income generation, which can help to ensure that the church’s project is sustainable in the long
term. One of the key questions that Peter will be considering is whether William Hogarth’s
altarpiece – identified in the Asset Review as being one of the most important heritage assets
associated with the church - can be sustainably included in the scheme.
When all of these pieces of work are complete, Purcell will begin an options appraisal to look at
how findings from the various studies effect the kind of buildings that the church will need to
create. We have recently been awarded just under £10,000 by the National Churches Trust to
support this piece of work.
Although listed last, the fundraising strategy – produced by Eric Grounds (former Director of
Fundraising and International Development at Sue Rider Care) – was completed first. It found that
the city of Bristol is supportive of the church’s development plans and that the church could
feasibly raise in the region of £10 million towards the cost of realising its project.
The church’s ability to raise funds may become more important in light of news received from the
HLF in January:
In early 2019 the Heritage Lottery Fund will begin a new, five-year Strategic Funding
Framework that sets out how we will distribute National Lottery good causes money to the
heritage sector. In January 2018 we will begin a public consultation on our priorities and how
that will work.
This process means that the last date the church can bid for a Heritage Grant in 2018 is August
16 th . Beyond this date, there is currently no certainty about what kind of funding will be available
following the HLF’s review, although we do know that funding will be available.
So the current plan is to complete the various pieces of work described above before taking stock
in late April/early May. If the church feels that it is in a position to submit a high quality bid with
the information it currently has, then a bid will be prepared for the coming August. If, however, it
is felt that more work is needed, the bid will be delayed and submitted at some point in 2019.
23

In summary, this year has been an important one with substantial progress being made in building
a clearer picture of the nature and scope of the project. We now have a bank of high quality
information that will prove invaluable in supporting the creation of the church’s new facilities.
Rhys Williams
Research Assistant
here is further good news regarding the redevelopment of Redcliffe Way and plans to
create a new urban village that will provide a fitting setting for the church. The Joint
Delivery Board – a partnership between Redcliffe Forum and Bristol City Council, of
which Dan Tyndall is a member – has recently appointed a consultant organisation to
look for a suitable development partner. This is significant news since it means that the
redevelopment of the areas to the north of the church will, almost certainly, go ahead. This, along
with the redevelopment of Redcliffe Wharf, the creation of new city quarter Redcliff Square, the
redevelopment of Temple Gate and the long term plans for Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise
Zone, means that the area of Redcliffe is about to undergo its most significant transformation since
the Second World War.
Rhys Williams
Research Assistant
24

25
Alan Roberts
Fabric Officer

ur group remains the same and we
have continued to work on the
collection. Unfortunately we have
had an extra-long Christmas break
as I broke my leg but we hope to re-establish our
routine and continue with the work in progress.
At the beginning of this year there was one
remaining Cope to be conserved, it was the
cream and gold Cope (SMR C10), it was one
which is rarely used but we felt that it was
important to put it back into a wearable condition. When we started work the velvet on the Morse
and Orphrey was badly worn and one of the hooks was missing from the Morse we were able to
purchase new hooks, we covered the Morse with fine net to prevent further damage. There was a
button missing from where the hood is attached to the Cope and we managed to find a substitute,
the embroidery was becoming detached so it needed to be sewn back in place. Not large jobs in
themselves but in total they made the Cope unwearable. It is now in good condition and hopefully
it will be used when required.
The major work has now been completed and we are in the position of being able to remedy smaller
problems more or less immediately so we feel we have achieved one of our main objectives as this
means that small problems do not grow into larger ones. We rely on the clergy and the Vergers to
report anything that needs attention and are happy to work on it quickly.
Julie Harvey and Pauline Taylor are currently working on the Schools banner, this was produced
and given by Mrs Fry and is a lovely example of very fine needlework. As it is a small item we have
taken the opportunity to share our work with the Sunday School to encourage interest and perhaps
future needleworkers!! The banner is extensively damaged and has required infilling with
matching silk fabric and a covering of fine silk net. The work that Julie and Pauline are doing is
very skilled and we are lucky to have the skills and the time to complete this project in house.
Bernice Clevely and I continue to work on the organisation and storage of the whole collection.
During the last year we have been able to find room in the Inner Vestry to store a large part of the
Stole collection. It has been an enormous relief to be able to move them from Canynges Kitchen
where they were stored in damp conditions. I am very grateful to Matthew and the other vergers
for helping us with this task.
26

Our next project is to remove the items stored under the Lady Chapel Altar and accommodate
them in cupboards on top of the Frontal Chest. We hope to complete this task in the not too distant
future. This will provide a much more suitable home for vestments no longer fashionable.
We have many items that are no longer fashionable but they show the development of modern
vestment design and would provide a very interesting display of this. The workmanship on many
of the items is superb and illustrates the love and dedication of so many worshippers from previous
generations.
Jane Ashman
Co-ordinator
27

In 2017 we focused on undertaking the quinquennial (5-yearly) inspection that every church
in the country is required to do. The inspection was completed in the summer with the
findings presented at the September Fabric Committee Meeting and the written report
formally issued at the end of the year.
The inspection represents an opportunity to inspect all parts of the building and I am pleased to
be able to report the condition of the church remains good. This can be attributable to the many
people involved with the church and also to financial support provided by the Vestry, Canynges
Society and other charities.
The proverb ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ is a term frequently used by the Society for the Protection
of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) as it is widely acknowledged that keeping on top of routine
maintenance saves significant capital expenditure in the longer term. Notwithstanding this,
building fabric does decay and some materials do come to the end of their life. As a result of lead
decay, the south aisle roof was recovered last year and this represents the major project completed
last year. A new lead plaque records the work and this sits next to the previous plaque that has been
re-fixed and which dates from the last re-leading in 1932.
The QQ inspection report identifies work of an urgent nature; work that needs to be carried out
within the next twelve to eighteen months and work for the five year period as well as desirable
improvements. Some of these projects are large in scale whilst others can be broken down into
smaller components to match the availability of funding. Forward planning is essential but at the
time of going to print, I am pleased to report that the St John’s Chapel windows are nearing their
completion and the priority roofing repairs identified in the report have already been completed.
It remains a joy to be involved with this magnificent building
Marcus Chantrey
Church Architect
28

Registered Charity No. 242231
have thoroughly enjoyed my year as President
of the Society and to be able to support the
Parish Church of St Mary Redcliffe.
The
support and generosity that I have received for
my annual appeal, from members and friends alike,
has been humbling. A reflection, I would like to
think, of the affection and high regard that we all
have for this magnificent Church.
As part of its fundraising the Society hosted a performance of the ‘Roses of Picardy’, a celebration
of the songs of Bristol barrister and lyricist Fred Weatherly. Falling on the weekend of
Remembrance Sunday, this was a timely trip down memory lane and well-attended. My sincere
thanks to Tony Staveacre and the Bristol Savages for a most entertaining evening.
This has been a busy year for projects with the Society supporting the Facilities Development
Project (now known as Project 450). Going forward I have no doubt that we will continue to
support the development of new facilities for this iconic building. The Society also supported an
exhibition in church to mark Reformation 500. This received many favourable comments and we
are grateful to the team at SMR for putting it together.
Past President Robin Shellard’s appeal was to enable public access to the Church roof. An initial
survey has been undertaken, and the prospects for a positive outcome are encouraging. Elsewhere,
the process of providing a more flexible lighting system is ongoing. Due to the complexity and
costs of this ambitious project a decision has been taken that this should be phased and we are
hopeful that this will take place shortly.
After many years of loyal service to the Standing Committee, Jason Viner is stepping down and we
offer him our sincere thanks. Likewise our Treasurer, Phil Evans, whose wise words and sound
judgement have been gratefully received.
In April at the Society’s AGM I will be passing on the baton to James Durie and wish him well for
his presidential year. If you would like further information on the Society please pick up a Gazette
from the information desk at the back of Church or contact the Administrator, Pat Terry, by email
at canynges@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk.
Matthew Laws
President, 2017
29

ach Sunday throughout the year lay people read the lessons at the 9.30 am Sung Eucharist
Service and 6.30 pm Evensong and a smaller number prepare and lead intercessions.
This means that approximately 90 people read lessons on a regular basis with others
reading at special services such as Advent and Nine Lessons and Carols – look out for
the request in the pew leaflet for volunteers to read at these services and respond if you would like
to do so. During the 2017/2018 year we have been pleased to welcome, as regular readers, young
people from the Sunday School. 16 people regularly lead the intercessions and individuals, families
and church groups form the offertory procession each Sunday.
We welcome new people to the rota so If you would like to read, prepare and lead intercessions or
be involved in the offertory procession do please be in touch . A rota is prepared twice a year and
e-mailed to participants in good time. For those without e-mail the rota can be collected from the
pigeon holes at the back of the north aisle.
Copies of readings are e-mailed (or posted) to
participants during the week prior to their reading and for those who intercede a copy of the pew
leaflet is e-mailed on Friday. A practice with microphones can be arranged.
Denise Reynolds
Co-ordinator
01275 543890
30

he team of servers here at Redcliffe, in the main, exist to provide support to the clergy
and congregation with their worship.
It has been a great year for the Serving Team at SMR having added 6 new young servers
recruited from the Sunday School - many thanks to Kat for her encouragement. Our
Team now numbers 28 active members.
Sadly we did lose 2 servers - Namjin and Na-Eun who have moved to Patchway and are now
worshipping at a local church. It has been a pleasure to have worked with them and their diligence
and pride in the way they carried out their serving duties has been greatly appreciated.
The team were treated to a very interesting trip to Hart’s Silversmiths in Chipping Campden which
was efficiently organised by Cecile. The company specialise in the designing and making of
Ecclesiastical and Civic silverware and have looked after much of our silverware for many years.
Our social diary plan for this year includes a fish & chip supper at Chew Valley, a trip to Somerset
Lavender Farm and a Quizingo evening.
If you feel you may be interested in serving and would like to know more please either speak to
any existing server (those strange looking characters dressed all in white) after any of our services
or contact Dean Barry on 0117 9099862 or deanpatb@gmail.com
Dean Barry
Head Server
We have a team of 21 lay administrants who assist in worship at the two communion
services each Sunday with some undertaking duties as Deacon and Sub Deacon at the
9.30 am Sung Eucharist Service. Duties are organised on a rota basis, each rota
covering a two month period. A small number of administrants assist at the Thursday service for
wholeness and healing.
Denise Reynolds
Co-ordinator
31

Ringing Master steps down
ony Bulteel has handed over the reins after a decade as ringing master. Tony has given
so much of his time to Redcliffe during which he has taught some to ring, given
opportunities for ringers to progress and above all has strived to achieve a high standard
of ringing for the guild. The band has gone from strength to strength and is now ringing
Avon Delight Maximus regularly. Tony continues to ring with us each week.
Bell ringing practice
Thursday practices have continued throughout the year and have been well attended by guild
members and visiting ringers from the city of Bristol and beyond. Practices are important because
they give the ringers much-needed time to ring together to perfect the rhythm and striking of the
sound we produce. It also allows us to try out new and more advanced ‘methods’ before we ring
them in Sunday mornings, when we aim for our ringing to be at its best.
Service ringing
We are pleased to have been able to ring for all Sunday morning services except for one throughout
the year. When there have not been enough available to ring all twelve bells we have rung at least
eight or ten of the 1903 bells cast by Taylor’s of Loughborough. The Bristol team for the National
Twelve-Bell Striking Contest ring on the third Sunday morning each month, which gives the
opportunity for the best Bristol ringers to ring together. The guild has also rung for Evensong
every Sunday afternoon and, despite the majority of Bristol ringers being away for the festive
period, we were also able to ring before Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Peals
The bells of St Mary Redcliffe are renowned for being one of the finest sounding peals of bells that
are rung in the British full-circle style. This makes them extremely popular for visiting bell ringers
from all over the United Kingdom. There were three successful peals by visiting bands and one by
the guild – each lasting around four hours and consisting of over 5,000 unique permutations - or
changes - of the twelve bells.
Striking Competitions
The guild won first place in the Bristol branch six-bell striking competition at Westbury-on-Trym.
We now have a place in the Gloucester & Bristol Diocesan Association striking competition and
will face winning teams from as many as ten other branches for The Croome Trophy in April 2018.
32

Bell maintenance
The bells were out of action for three months while work was carried out in the belfry to clean
down and paint the 1903 frame and bell fittings. This was essential to ensure that the bells can
continue to be rung for years to come. The clock chimes also had to be silenced to allow the work.
During this period, the guild still met weekly to ring and practice together at other Bristol churches,
including St Ambrose Whitehall, St James Priory, St Stephen and Knowle. We also ventured as far
afield as Newport, Chepstow and Cheltenham Minster.
Open Doors
Once again Doors Open Day was a success with around 250 members of public taken up the tower
to see the ringing chamber and the bells in action. Many also got to have a go at chiming the bells,
which was very popular with the children.
Social
Twenty-two guild members and friends joined our annual outing to Somerset for a day in
September with ringing at six churches including St Mary’s in Taunton, which has a new ring of
twelve bells. In December, more than twenty of us enjoyed our Christmas meal at The Lansdown
pub in Clifton.
Facebook
We now have our own page on Facebook featuring information, photos and video clips of bell
ringing at Redcliffe, including ringing in 2018 on New Year’s Eve. Please search for St Mary
Redcliffe Guild of Ringers and ‘like’ our page.
Gareth Lawson
Ringing Master
33

Mattins begins.
erving of tea and coffee after 9.30 Eucharist continues to go from strength to strength. We
are self-sufficient, even making a small profit thanks to donations made in our little dishes
each week. It is also good to see everyone talking and getting to know each other. We have
an excellent team who are willing and helpful to serve and help with washing up before
Refreshments were provided and served one afternoon for the Old Vic Theatre School Graduation
in the West End of Church for the second year running.
I would like to thank the many friends of Redcliffe who came forward to help with refreshments
during Treefest 2017 this was a great success and it seemed everyone enjoyed the occasion.
Christine Bush
Co-ordinator
34

Here are some of the musical highlights from April 2017 to April 2018:
Handel’s Messiah Part 2 , sung by our girls and adults on Passion Sunday Choir
Concert at St Mary’s Leigh Woods to raise funds for their church
Friends of Cathedral Music attending Mattins
Carmina Folk and Jazz Concert in the South Transept in June.
Bristol Concert Orchestra with SMR Choir Concert last summer
Further RSCM Gold, Silver and Bronze Award success
Temple Church Choir concert at SMR
Gesualdo Six Concert featuring former SMR Head Chorister Owain Park
Singing at the funeral of our much loved and missed tenor Dr Bill Barwell
New Grand Piano for Church purchased by choir funds and Friends of Music
Bath Abbey and SMR combined Choirs Evensong and football (2-1 loss to us!)
Two successful Advent Carol Services
Two successful Nine Lessons and Carols Services
Centerparcs weekend with the girls choir in January 2018
Christmas CD recording sessions in January for Autumn 2018 release
There have been up to 18 boys, 18 girls and 18 adults singing in our choirs during this year.
The Redcliffe Occasional Choir was disbanded in August 2017. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the Organists, choristers and their families and the Church Lands
Charity (Vestry) for their support of the music at the church. It has been an exciting year with lots
of different events in addition to our regular Sunday services.
Recruitment to all the choirs remains a priority – we have spaces for more boys, girls and adults,
although our numbers are holding up well.
Andrew Kirk
Director of Music & Organist
35

t present we have thirty-four sidesmen, assisted by the Vestry, to cover all services,
baptisms, weddings, funerals and concerts throughout the year.
As the church is used extensively for so many events the sidesmen are regularly on
duty. Duties are organised on a rota basis for the whole year but we are flexible if only
certain services can be covered. Training, including first aid, fire drill, evacuation exercises and
ongoing support, is offered to all present sidesmen and those wishing to join.
The role of a sidesman is interesting and enjoyable, extending a warm welcome to all people
attending an event or just visiting the church. As this is a voluntary service in the church we
welcome anyone who would be interested in fulfilling such a position.
Graham Marsh and Jean Langley
Head Sidesmen
36

ell people, yet another great year for the Redcliffe stewards. Once again you all
exceeded expectations stepping up to the mark as the front line of our great
church, making this place of worship a serene, spiritual and happy place to visit.
My love goes out to you all for the amazing work you all do around doors open
day, Treefest, Christmas, Easter but most of all on the day to day running of SMR.
Also a very warm welcome to our two great new stewards who come in the form of Paul Thomas
and Jakie Walters, you've been a great and positive plus to our happy gang at the back of church.
Let's make this year a good one gang,
Love and thoughts,
Andy
Andy Carruthers
Head Steward
37

e welcomed just under 3,000
visitors to St Mary Redcliffe on the
Doors Open Day Saturday in
September 2017. While this was a
slight from previous years we are confident the
day was a success if the feedback received on the
day and later was a measure.
Our normal attractions in the form of the roof
and bell tower tours were again oversubscribed.
Unfortunately the roof tours had to be cut short due to heavy showers making the roof unsafe. The
Bell Ringing team stepped up taking additional visitors to the bell tower putting on tours after the
planned finished time.
In addition to our informative displays telling the history and story of St Mary Redcliffe, our
beautiful presentation of vestments, the story of the Thomas Chatterton and family activities led
by Sunday School leader Becky Macron, we also welcomed Eleanor Lee with an inspiring real life
drawing exhibition and class and All Day Breakfast with their thought provoking ‘Sounding Board’
interactive exhibition. The exhibition raising awareness of Bristol’s links to the slave trade through
spoken narratives, through time, from those that experienced and were part of the trade.
The Lady Chapel providing a place for contemplation, reflection and quiet during the day.
Our popular ‘market stall’ area allowed us to show off our community activities including but not
limited to, Christmas Lunches, Treefest, the Film Club and PECO Theatre and the wonderful
knitting skills of the team producing a range of garments and throws.
The ARC café was yet again a vibrant and busy spot during the day leaving those working in the
café little time to sit and enjoy the day.
It’s fair to say Doors Open Day wouldn’t be anywhere near the success it is it wasn’t for the large
and loyal team of volunteers. The dedication, cheerfulness and flexibility shown by ALL the
volunteers make for such a welcoming and positive experience for our visitors. Thank you.
www.bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk
Peter Rignall
Operations Manager
38

Our best Treefest so far!
his was our fourth Treefest, which is now a much
anticipated event in the church calendar, and indeed
in the calendar of the city of Bristol. The 2017 event
attracted some 85 entries, raising over £6000 for
charity. Around 5000 visitors poured in through the church
doors over the period of the week, many of whom expressed their
delight in the imaginative and highly creative tree designs.
Our 2017 Treefest had a youthful focus: our chosen charity
partner was Young Bristol, who in 2018 will be celebrating 90
years of successful work in helping young people 8-24 years of age
to achieve futures as productive, caring, responsible members of
society. Young Bristol works with a wide range of community
clubs and directly with young people through a programme
which includes outdoor activities, the creative arts, instructor training, and informal educational
programmes during their critical non-school hours. It was therefore most fitting that their ‘tree’
exhibit consisted of a range of canoes lashed together and suitably decorated, creating a real talking
point.
Young people’s organisations were well represented last year in support of Young Bristol,
including several schools, Bristol’s Deaf Children, Compass Point Children’s Centre, and
organisations like Nessy Learning. There was also a wide range of other clubs, charities and
societies, ranging from Knitted Knockers to Platform 3 at Temple Meads, to Cruse Bereavement.
Once again there was the opportunity for visitors to vote for their favourite tree: Milestones Trust
won with their highly unusual tree consisting of colourful fabric flounces. The money raised at
Treefest was divided equally between Young Bristol and St Mary Redcliffe’s own outreach projects.
The music programme organised by Andrew Kirk was, as always, a highlight, with some excellent
ensembles performing to a very appreciative audience. Our thanks go to him, as well as to the
many folk who contributed so enthusiastically to making the event such a success: Christine Bush
and her refreshments team; the stewards who manned the doors and made visitors welcome; the
team in the ARC café; the Parish Office, the vergers, the choir, and of course all the exhibitors who
pushed their innovation and creativity to new heights. Thanks too to our sponsors, Hollis Morgan
and Smith & Williamson, as well as others who gave so generously to help make Treefest happen.
39
Sue Hartley
Treefest Committee

‘m sure by now you will know that 'Seekers' is our church faith group developed by myself
and Revd. Dan Tyndall. Over the last two years we have gone through a trial period to figure
out our identity, purpose and mission to deliver to our church community.
In 2017, we have engaged in some incredibly diverse and intriguing topics, Opening a
Conversation of Faith, A Comparison of the Gospels and The Power of Prayer to name a few. What
was brilliant about this year is that each session really gave people an opportunity to think and
connect with the topics and engage in meaningful discussions. A big thank you must go to Greca
and Helena for getting involved and organising some of the sessions and hosting them in their
homes. Another big thank you must go to everyone who has come and participated in the
discussions. It's been so wonderful to see everyone's passion for our faith. It has been a particularly
rewarding experience for me to see people come together, get to know each other and learn from
each other. It has been enriching to my own faith journey to learn from others’ thoughts and
experiences.
I would like to take an opportunity to thank everyone who has been a big support to this group.
An even bigger thank you must go to Revd. Dan and Sarah, without whom none of this would have
been possible. I have appreciated every bit of your help and support with shaping this group. Thank
you for sharing your heart and home with our church community.
So what's in store for 2018? We have big plans which we are eager to share but we are keeping it
under wraps until we have worked out all the details. Later in the year we will send out full
communications which will be available via email, the church website, parish magazine and a
leaflet which is being produced by the fabulously talented Eleanor Vousden.
What I can share is the dates for your diary. So take note of, 13th September, 11th October, 8th
November, 13th December, 10th January 2019, 14th February, 9th May, 13th June and 11th July.
All the sessions will be at 7.30pm at the Vicarage. If you have come along before we would love to
see you again and if you have never been to a session before why not give it a go!
Remember, it's free, it's fun and it's never too late to have a conversation about your faith. We look
forward to meeting you.
Nadine Aujla
Co-ordinator
40

he group continues to meet four times a year under the guidance of the Vicar. We are a
friendly, supportive group, open to all who are exploring what a sense of vocation might
mean. The next meeting will be on 4th July (venue to be confirmed). You don’t have to
be invited!
Although we understand “vocation” in a wide sense, some of us are exploring a vocation to
authorised, licensed or ordained ministry within the Church of England and at our most recent
meeting we welcomed the Rev Chris North, the new Diocesan Director of Ordinands, who gave
an insight into the processes that are involved in this diocese, and at our next we hope to welcome
a local priest with experience of both self-supporting and stipendiary ministry.
One of the purposes of the group is to encourage others who may feel that they, or someone they
know, might be being called in some way. As Dan has said:
“I feel certain that there are other people in the SMR community with a similar calling on their
lives. Again, for some it might be to ordained ministry, whilst for others it will be a pathway to a
lay role within the church.
“If this initiative stirs something with you please do let me know.
“More than that, if this initiative makes you wonder whether another member of our church might
have a vocation please do talk with them and with me!”
Simon Goodman
41

n mid-July, a group of over 70 of us, including 20 children and teenagers, headed to the coast
for the Parish Weekend in Sidmouth. It was a wonderfully diverse group – covering every
decade of life from 0s to 80s.
Each of our sessions included separate learning time for adults and children, but also time
together – this was a highlight for many, as we don’t often get an opportunity to learn and grow
together in mixed age groups like that in church. We explored key questions and stories that reflect
on our church’s purpose – “Singing the Song of Faith and Justice”. We looked at the calling of the
disciples and asked ourselves “What are you looking for?” as we thought about the church
community, what attracted us and what keeps us. We looked at the roads to Emmaus and
Damascus and asked ourselves “What road are you on?” as we thought about our own faith
journeys and next steps. And we looked at the story of the Good Samaritan and asked “Who is my
neighbour” as we thought about how to live out our faith in the world.
The creative worship of the weekend was rounded off by a communion service on the Sunday
morning. An altar frontal and stoles had been painted the previous afternoon by adults and
children, reflecting some of the themes of the weekend and the wonderful seaside location. There
was plenty of social time to chat, relax, use the swimming pool and explore the beaches and cafes
of Sidmouth. It really was a precious opportunity for us to be together as a church family. We
have learned a lot from the process of organising and running this weekend, so the next one will
be even better!
The hotel is already booked for 5th-7th July 2019 – save the date!
Revd. Kat Campion-Spall
42

he role of Sunday
School Co-ordinator
continues to be one of
the most fulfilling
parts of my life. It’s a
great pleasure to work with the
children and families of St Mary
Redcliffe and to play an active part
in the life of the church.
Over the past year, we’ve grown in
number, with a number of families visiting our church on more than one occasion and a further
six families joining our Sunday School. It has been lovely to welcome our children and families
into the wider church community through baptism, admission to communion and confirmation.
Some of our children have become young servers and a small number have joined the choirs. It
has also been a great pleasure to participate in All-Age Services, such as Harvest and Mothering
Sunday. It is evident from the positive feedback that the congregation thoroughly the children’s
involvement in such occasions. Statistics show that faith flourishes in a community with mixed
generations, and I firmly believe that this is the main reason behind the growth and success of our
Sunday School.
The question of the number of parents attending our sessions has often been the heart of many
discussions. It soon came to my attention when I took over the leadership of Sunday School that
this was actually something quite unique compared to some other churches, where there is perhaps
a more traditional approach – an approach more in line with our model of education, where
children “go off to do their learning” whilst the grown-ups stay in church. We’re not the education
system and faith is not something that can or should be measured like an end of year assessment.
In real life, we are all mixed together, and this is what helps us to understand one another, to learn
from each other and to have a real sense of identity and belonging - people don’t belong in boxes.
So I think our unique approach is not something to question but is instead something to cherish
and nurture.
I enjoy every aspect of my role as Sunday School co-ordinator, so it would be hard to pinpoint a
favourite. However, I have particularly loved organising special events, such as parents’ nights out
and the overnight stay (Champing) in church in the summer. Fundraising has always been a
passion of mine from a very young age and supporting our charity events, such as the Lent Project
and Treefest remain very popular among our Sunday School families. Mary’s Meals Backpack
43

Appeal is also a very special occasion; I am personally very competitive and I was delighted that
we exceeded our record back in September with the number of backpacks donated.
Following a Deanery event last year, which focused on engaging young people in churches, we
began to reflect on our provision for our own teenagers. Our own youth group, the Rockets, which
we established last year, has not been at all successful; we can definitely say, it has not taken off.
This is due to a number of reasons, not least the fact that some of our young people are involved
in sporting activities on a Sunday morning. Therefore, one of my missions for the coming year is
to launch our Rockets as a “proper” church youth group on a Sunday afternoon, prior to choir
practice. We also hope to engage with children in year 6 in other church communities (who will
be moving to St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School in September) by organising a joint transition
day.
Another mission for 2018 is to engage
more closely with the community of
Redcliffe. As well as “one off” community
days, Kat and I have discussed plans to
organise more structured opportunities
for our local community, and we are
hoping to create a Christian parent/carer
and toddler group in September. I have
never really liked the name “Sunday
School”.
Firstly, because, as I said earlier, we are not an education centre, secondly and most
significantly, the sharing of the good news of Jesus should not be confined to a Sunday.
The Sunday School team has continued to expand to meet the needs of our growing population!
The Sunday School leaders and volunteers with whom I work have so much to offer and it is such
a privilege to be able to draw on their talents and expertise. I am often complimented on the
success of our Sunday School – however, all I do is co-ordinate. The great work and inspiration
comes from the rest of the team (as the picture shows, even in the snow, our leaders come armed
with a fantastic set of resources – a true testament of their commitment and dedication!) I am very
grateful for the time and effort dedicated by the leaders, parents and helpers of our Sunday School
children.
It a great pleasure to work with the staff at Redcliffe, especially Kat, and I am very grateful for the
opportunities given to me to explore my own vocation. I look forward to another positive year.
Rebecca Macron
Sunday School Co-ordinator
44

nother interesting year has flown by with old schools and new visiting us for
workshops. We have hosted school groups from as close as Windmill Hill to as far away
as Lyon in France and planned work for ages four to seventeen.
For the first time in July 2017 we hosted the Children’s University Graduation
Ceremony on behalf of the University of the West of England. It was a wonderful morning during
which over 70 children received awards for the hard work they had put in at various different
Learning Destinations across the city, of which St Mary Redcliffe is one.
Workshops to support the Religious Education curriculum and tours to enhance the History
curriculum have been very well received. We have delivered story sack sessions for four-year olds
and Question and Answer sessions for GCSE pupils. We incorporate art, craft, music and creative
writing in our workshops.
The Graduation Ceremony saw our church full of parents and
siblings supporting the graduates.
Degrees were awarded by academic staff from UWE Bristol.
45

The Easter Story as a stained-glass window by children from Cleve House School in
Knowle and a roof boss designed by a pupil at St Mary Redcliffe Primary School.
In addition to planning and running the schools’ workshops, I produced a number of hands on
activities for the October half-term Reformation 500 Exhibition which were situated in the South
Transept. These focussed on:
William Tyndale translating the Bible into English and a trail to the 1579 Breeches Bible
a consideration of the destruction of art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and a
trail to look at our renovated mediaeval windows in St John’s Chapel with a window
puzzle to undertake.
an exploration of the destruction
of sculptures and the replacement
of some with a trail to look at the
statues and corbels on the North
and South porches and an
opportunity to draw the corbels in
the South Transept
an opportunity to compare
different versions of a Bible passage – in Latin, from the 1599 Geneva Bible and from the
Good News Bible with an activity to design manuscript letters
an exploration of who Martin Luther was and the meaning of his seal with a colouring
activity.
I have also been involved in making resources for story sacks which can be used with groups of
children in the church.
With my team of ‘crafty’ volunteers we have met during the past year to sew, to crochet and to knit
characters from the Easter story. Last year for Easter workshops, I was using wise men and
46

shepherds from the Christmas story sack to stand in for disciples or Roman soldiers! This wasn’t
quite how I wanted it to be, and so thanks to the efforts of my craft group, we have now the full
complement of characters to help children understand the Easter story. It is complicated for
children to appreciate the events of Holy Week, but with the characters to help them, the Easter
story becomes clearer and easier to understand.
47

The work could not be done without my teams of wonderful volunteers who give their time to
work with the children and to make the story sacks. The workshops take place in the church on
Tuesdays. If anyone would like to be involved, please get in touch with Sarah in the Parish Office
or email: sarah.yates@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Sarah Yates
Education Officer
48

t was a year of change for the primary school in 2017. Having been
placed in “special measures” at the end of 2016, the necessary
improvements presented a challenge to staff, parents and governors,
but has led to many positive developments – and increased funding.
Esther Keller and I became foundation governors in September
2017, so we have seen the school and its progress only during the current
academic year. Since academisation in June 2017, the school has been part of the Diocese of Bristol
Academies Trust (DBAT). September saw John Calvert appointed as interim headteacher,
following the resignation of the previous head in March.
A number of initiatives were put in place on the academic side, particularly improving teaching
and planning for maths (with DfE funding) and “Talk for Writing” across the school. In fact, good
progress had been made in all the areas identified by Ofsted as “needing improvement”, except for
outcomes for pupils, hence the focus particularly on maths, but also on reading and writing. The
school is especially keen to encourage the achievements of our disadvantaged children, for whom
outcomes are significantly below both the Bristol average and where we would like them to be.
Renewed attention has been paid to punctuality and attendance: just a few minutes missed every
day can easily mount up to a week over the year. The school’s house point/reward system now
includes attendance, with more than 100 children achieving 100% attendance since the start of the
year. Also, with support from the governing body, penalty notices for unauthorised absence of
more than 4 days (i.e. holidays in term time) are now issued in a more robust manner.
The major change, however, is academisation, SMRP now being part of DBAT, together with sister
primary schools in Easton and Fishponds. The role played by the trust at different levels of
decision-making has been clearly explained, from individual teachers to trust-wide policies. There
are financial management implications, too, again with guidance from DBAT. The governing body
has been supported by DBAT staff attending – and contributing to - our meetings. From the start,
a high priority has been given to safeguarding, with mandatory training for all concerned.
In each classroom, the children have been responsible for creating a spiritual reflection zone. They
are then encouraged to take time out every day, maybe to consider special objects they have
brought in. This supports the Christian distinctiveness of the school, whilst at the same time
valuing other faiths and beliefs, important with such a multicultural pupil profile.
Renewed energy has been put into increasing funding for the library, and having a dedicated
member of staff to encourage and broaden its use. The school winter fair raised money for books
(by having a grotto in the staffroom, up the spiral staircase!) and a book amnesty was held for the
49

eturn of missing volumes. Parents have been involved in this and other initiatives, and parent
representative meetings set up to enhance home-school communication.
This is an exciting time to have become a governor at the primary school and we look forward to
more and far-reaching changes in 2018. Marie Thomas has been appointed headteacher, and
started in January. She will carry forward many of the initiatives from 2017, particularly a focus on
the learning environment, achievement in maths and outcomes for the disadvantaged pupils.
Jenny Hall
School Governor
50

School and church have worked together successfully for over 400
years. As a church school we receive two official inspections.
Most will have heard of Ofsted but perhaps not so many of the
church one, SIAMS. We were inspected in March 2017 and were
delighted not only to be ‘outstanding’ overall, but outstanding in each of
the four sections. This makes the same judgments for three SIAMS and
two Ofsteds in a row. Outstanding is not the same as perfect, however,
and we are not complacent. Our new five year plan has plenty for us to focus on, with special
emphasis on changing exams at both GCSE and at A-level and on improving student mental
health.
We are enormously grateful for the hospitality and encouragement of the SMRC staff and stewards
when we worship in the church and that worship underpins our daily life. The Vergers provide for
our services back in school with great diligence and organisation. We really appreciate those
members of the church who give unstinting wisdom and energy to their role as school governors
and especially those like Pete Farr and Claire Alsop who chair committees. School admissions,
both to Y7 and to Y12, take up a lot of time and Claire Alsop has given unsparingly. We are very
grateful to the generous congregation and guests who always make a substantial contribution to
the school after the Rush Sunday service.
We enjoy our collaborations, for example the Lunch Club, Christmas party, Colston Day and the
fabulous Tree Fest. We’ve enjoyed getting to know about and being more involved in the over-55
activities. We will continue to seek new ways of being school and church as the year progresses
and as Joey Mitchell, our Chaplain, Kat Campion-Spall, FaithSpace and the new youth worker
continue to bring new ideas into the mix.
Finally, we thank Revd. Dan Tyndall for his personal support and commitment to the school, our
occasions and our spiritual development.
This is my final report after a long association with the church and the school. May I thank
everyone who has always had a cheery word and who has been interested in the school, I have felt
very privileged to be so aware of such a long-standing and vibrant partnership between school and
church.
Simon Stevens
Assistant Head Teacher
51

e have seen a continuing programme of improvement on the premises, including
roofing, grounds-work and the new chapel coffee bar. Thanks go to both the
Methodist Church and to SMR for help with the large window replacement. We
now have smaller rooms in the flat available for rental and have also made this
home to our new Faithspace Christian Fellowship introducing faith to a growing group of local
people.
We accommodated the second successful Night Shelter, running one night a week for six weeks
with Bristol Churches together and another very successful Christmas Day lunch, thanks to Chris
and Lorraine Legg and friends.
We are pleased to welcome a new series of classes from Weston College with local job centres, that
will help some long-term unemployed back into work. One of many new bookings, for example:
Bristol Best Tuition- Maths and English for families on a budget. More ESOL classes from the City
council, Jazz appreciation society, 1001 Nights Dance and a support group for OCD and Phobias
sufferers. The range is wide, but prioritises local needs. Regular bookings are spread over seven
days a week and cover social, educational, physical and spiritual activities.
We have had the usual round of Faithspace Christmas, Easter and summer parties for local families
with the help of our Community Police and some very community-minded locals. We housed the
Redcliffe children’s festival for the first time in September and set up an all afternoon production
line for our Pancake party complete with lemon, jam and Chocolate spread!
We hold Messy Church here and Faithspace After School Club is very busy, with a hall-full every
Thursday with crafts, puzzles, games and football, with new and donated toys. Later in the summer
we hope to take some of our regulars to Barton camp, giving some a much-needed holiday break
in the countryside.
Please come and help us on Thursdays, or with Tuesday Coffee morning. This has doubled in size,
serving and welcoming all-comers, with tea, chat, cake and a listening ear. One of our regulars has
drawn botanical designs to decorate coasters to advertise for us and our new coffee bar has
increased the capacity for each space to be used independently at the same time in our mission to
be both community hub and Christian Fellowship in Redcliffe.
Sarah James
Faithspace Missioner
52

Once again I metaphorically dusted off my spreadsheet, duly noted 2016’s deliverers’
feedback and produced the delivery lists for the annual Parish Christmas Cards
marathon. The number of cards distributed is now over 4,500 as the Parish continues to
grow with the newest developments at Finzels Reach, Wapping Wharf, the General Hospital and
elsewhere. This is only set to continue with upcoming developments at Redcliffe Quarter (former
Pilkingtons Glass) and Redcliffe Wharf, and the next phases of Finzels Reach Wapping Wharf.
Thanks to the time generously given by a veritable army of deliverers, we were able to spread a
Christmas message of peace and goodwill (as well as advertising our seasonal services) to the vast
majority of addresses in the parish. A returnable sheet with each bundle also enabled deliverers to
feed back to me any difficulties or successes they had with accessing secure buildings, which will
again ensure we maximise the reach of the cards in 2018. Some of those blocks of flats are very
tricky to get into, even if you can find the door! Thank you to everyone who helped and sorry if I
haven’t thanked you personally – it is an important piece of outreach work with a wide reach and
part of our duty to the Parish.
Adam King
Co-ordinator
53

“Lord, when did we see you homeless…?”
s I write this it is raining and although we are over the recent very cold weather you
don’t have to be out for very long before the cold gets into your bones. All of us who
have been volunteering in Redcliffe’s contribution to the Bristol Churches’ Winter
Night Shelter scheme has realised that whilst it might mean a little personal discomfort
or an early morning we are very fortunate to have come from a warm home.
Meeting this year’s guests has reinforced the fragility of the society in which we live. Several have
jobs, two have left in the early hours in order to be sure of getting to work, and most are facing the
difficulty of finding accommodation when you can’t provide a substantial deposit or a pre-existing
address.
All have expressed themselves grateful for a warm and unjudging welcome, good food, a
comfortable bed and some breakfast.
Those who have volunteered have put up and laid tables, laid down mattresses and made beds,
cooked food, served it cleared it away and washed up, played Uno, Scrabble and done jigsaws, sat
through the night, made tea and toast, cleared away the beds and restored the hall and to all of
them I am immensely grateful.
Whilst it is invidious to single out people as all have contributed such a range of skills I am grateful
to Sarah James for letting me do almost anything to her space, to Andy Carruthers for his ever
creative and plaudit winning cooking, and to the apparently indomitable duo of Ruth Roche and
Jenny Martin whom it is simply impossible to stop.
As was the case last year, the experience is proving to be enjoyable and humbling in equal measures,
enabling us to meet and work together not just from the Redcliffe community but across a range
of volunteers from other churches and to make friends and have conversations which might not
otherwise have happened.
During the training we reminded that homelessness is a circumstance not a label and also that we
might all be but two payslips away from such circumstance.
I am simply grateful to be able work as a team to put into practice the words
“Anything you did for one of my brothers, you did for me”. again.
Keith Donoghue
Co-ordinator
54

ell I can hardly believe it has already been a year since taking on the role of Parish
Safeguarding Officer. I owe a huge debt of thanks to Denise Reynolds who had
undertaken the role for over 20 years. Her detailed knowledge and comprehensive
records have been so useful in helping me to take on this role. Whilst I have been
a children’s champion for a couple of years and served on the Safeguarding committee I had not
quite realised how much Denise had had to cope with over the years. I can only hope that I can be
equally diligent.
This year has been one of consolidation since Denise steered the Parish Safeguarding policy
through the PCC back in March 2017 (you can access this information on the website at
http://www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk/assets/2017-smr-safeguarding-policy-final2.pdf
Another 11 volunteers have been through the safeguarding procedures so that they are able to
assist with both the Sunday School and the Choirs along with 3 members of staff. The majority of
PCC members have also been through the process with only a few individuals needing to complete
the on-line application. My thanks to Becky Macron and Kat Campion-Spall for their help with
the applications.
Denise was incredibly successful over the last two years in encouraging many of our volunteers,
including myself, to undertake the safeguarding training available from the diocese. Awareness
and training about safeguarding has been made even easier through an on-line course which you
access via this link https://www.bristol.anglican.org/safeguarding-training
May I just take this opportunity to ask for your help as, whilst we have robust policies and
procedures in place, and excellent training available, the protection of both children and vulnerable
adults is shared responsibility for each member of our community.
Stephen Brooke
Safeguarding Officer
55

he 'cutting-room floor' at SMR has seen two
editors this past year, and the cry “any offers?”
in last year's report for A Year at Redcliffe still
lingers..! A sharp learning curve, but as
incoming Editor (July-August onwards) I've inherited an
excellent platform and set of magazine objectives: priority
for items relating to life in and around Redcliffe to ensure
the many “developments, events, reflections,
community initiatives” generated in the parish are
reported. Bar one or two new additions and a change
in the mag's look (see final para) things are the same,
with copy falling into a pre-existing but fluid structure
organised according to regularity and type of material
– which, since the summer, has looked something like
this but isn't all set in stone:
Regular monthly columns: the Vicar's Letter; Soundbites; Sunday School; Forgotten
Voices (2014-2018); Parishioner message board; Lectionary; Diary; Parish Register; Editor's note
(new); Prayers.
Frequent columns; most months: Diocese news; Church matters and/or articles from SMR staff
and leadership; Redcliffe cultures (new); Redcliffe Gardening; adverts; other...
Ad hoc and occasional columns: seasonal (church year); features (e.g: Reformation 500); other...
Firstly, without our regular monthly columns the mag wouldn't happen (or would be the poorer),
so thank you all round. Special thanks to our 'anonymous' regulars – Dr Carys Underdown for the
Lectionary; Ros Houseago in the Parish Office for the Diary, Parish Register and much help
besides; Evelyn Burton-Guyett and Jean Langley for, respectively, Sunday's collection and
attendance figures – and Angela Hogg, our previous Editor, for setting up the mag's Parishioner
notice board. Of our frequent though less regular columns, first and foremost we recall Bishop
Mike's final letter (Diocese news, September), but our listing also includes Project 450 updates;
business items (PCC, data protection); Education reports; social action (Winter Night Shelter),
local community (Redcliffe Gardening Club, Peco Community Theatre, Hymn Singalong,
Redcliffe Lunch Club) and parishioner engagement (Seekers faith group, Epiphany party); and ads
(Christians in Science) and more... At this point thanks to Amy, Angela, Bobby, Eric, Evelyn,
Freddy, Helena, Keith, Nadine, Rachel, Rhys, Roma, Rosemary, Sarah – but there's much more so,
again, thanks all round.
56

And on the Parishioner notice board: life's milestones, much social engagement, news of former
parishioners, many upcoming activities, plus thank-you's, requests, ads and more. Memorably,
we've celebrated Eric Tyley's 100th birthday and Ruth Roche's 90th, and been privileged to pass on
message of thanks from the families of Janet Allen and Jeremy Knight to all who attended the
funerals and have shared the families' sorrow. From Jenny Martin we've learnt about Helping
Hands Myanmar who work to alleviate suffering there, and about the work of Mary's Meals from
Marion Durbur. And, again, more... Please continue to share your news.
And the images we've received have complemented and added depth to our words – like Mildred
Ford's photograph “Roses and Shadows” (March Prayers). Thank you for sending them. Likewise,
thanks to Kendra (9), Adѐle (7) and families for permission to show work (respectively, a
candelabra sketch; a chandelier study) marking Candlemas on February's Prayers page and Front
Cover. On other Front Covers: work by professional photographer Barbara Evripidou for Sarah
Yates (Sept; Children's University Graduation); a drawing from one of many by members of the
public at SMR at Doors Open Day (Oct; Jessica Wilkie); an image from Unseen UK's Lent Freedom
exhibition (March; a Survivor's photograph); and, again, more… please keep them coming.
Moving outwards to the church year and occasional columns, we have, for example, Lent coverage
of Modern Slavery (Cecile Gillard et al, thanks also to Jemimah Lane at Unseen UK, our Lent
charity partner), and coverage of once-yearly events such as Treefest (John Viney et al) and Doors
Open Day (Pete Rignall). Our features have covered faith, cultural heritage, history, social mores
and the needs of others. We thank the Dean of Bristol, our Vicar Dan, Andrew Kirk, Martin Lee
and Cecile Gillard for covering the 500th anniversary of the Reformation; Pat Terry et al for the
Reformation 500 exhibition; Dr Clive Colledge for an interview on generational stereotyping
(TEDxBristol); renowned historian Stuart Andrews for writing on Thomas Chatterton; Robert
Cleave on his charity bike ride; and the Editor has written on William Hogarth at St Nicholas.
More?
Final words: the new column “Redcliffe Cultures” offers space to life and culture relating to
Redcliffe whether that's here and now, elsewhere or historically; apropos the magazine's new look,
my own background's in art & design but future editors will do something different I'm sure – par
for the course in any creative community! Oh, and this Easter, the magazine is… my first out on
time (thank you for your patience)!
Eleanor Vousden
Editor
57

n 2017 we continued to supply tea, coffee, biscuits etc. to the Friends of Parents at the
Childrens’ Hospital and make a donation towards the cost of flowers on Mothering Sunday.
We had a variety of speakers in 2017 which included John Pickard’s “European River
Cruise”, Maria Viner (Mothers for Mothers), and the Revd David Frayne our former vicar
along with Elizabeth his wife who was Branch Leader when they were at Redcliffe.
In addition we held three services of Holy Communion at our meetings during the year presided
over by the Revd Kat Campion-Spall, which was welcomed by the members and will continue in
2018.
The annual dinner took place in the Undercroft provided by Pat Jones and her helpers, and was
enjoyed by all those present.
We now give warm hats and gloves etc. to the seamen at their Mission in Avonmouth, also knitted
teddy bears for their children.
The Branch meets at Faithspace on the second Wednesday of each month with the exception of
January. A copy of the 2018 programme is on the Mothers Union notice board in Church.
Hilda Watts
58

Saturday 21 st October 2017
Although there are many good reasons for doing the Pipe Walk we do this specially in
order to lay claim to the Church’s endowment, for by following the route of the Pipe we
maintain our Right of Way.
Early on Saturday going by bus, I met Ned Cussen, Surveyor to the church, en route, and we arrived
at St. Barnabas Church where all 26 of us Pipe Walkers were given coffee before leaving St.
Barnabas at 10.00 am to start The Walk.
We started with a prayer and thanksgiving for the Water supply, and then on clear directions from
Ned Cussen we were on the downhill path through beautiful green countryside, over a stream, and
then up a path to the Allotments and back gardens to see the Natural Spring and nearby the Well
Head. Here we did some peering into the Well Head to see the flowing water supply.
All along the route we looked for stones marking the Pipe location, and I think I counted at least
7, plus the special Bump stone at the end of Victoria Park. This is not to be missed by anyone
coming for the first time! Do look at the brick labyrinth and see the Pipe water running through.
The plan of the labyrinth is a copy of a roof boss in St Mary Redcliffe church. Something else to
find.
What you will find good is talking to someone as you walk along; finding time to chat in busy lives
is sometimes difficult… though not on the Walk, nor having that first coffee, nor the doughnut at
the end.
There are splendid views of Bristol to see as well as local housing; children playing; allotment
gardens, and walking along quiet country paths and even through someone’s back garden. All great
fun, telling all of us more about Bristol, and thinking about water supplies.
A good morning’s walk with friends and fascinating places to see, finishing in St Mary Redcliffe
church with coffee and a doughnut at 12.15.
Margaret Cartledge
59

nce again Christmas Puddings from the Ultimate Plum Pudding Company, the family
business in Kendal, were on sale on Doors Open Day. However, this year the majority
of puddings were sold to the ever-increasing ‘regular customers’ rather than to the
visitors. The reason for this was that I was committed to a special event in London
that, unfortunately, clashed with Doors Open Day and neither event could be changed!
As Christmas would not be the same without the Redcliffe pudding (or so I’m told), potential
customers were asked to pre-order this year and as only complete boxes may be ordered and
delivered, the total was rounded up leaving just a few spare puddings to sell in September.
My grateful thanks go to Sarah Tyndall and Jean Langley who volunteered to give up their time to
sell the remaining puddings on Doors Open Day ensuring the usual sell-out and reaching the
maximum profit possible of £153.86, owing to the discount I get, which has been paid into the
PCC’s general account.
Appreciation of the puddings being on sale was also expressed by an unknown gentleman, who
apparently comes to Doors Open Day every year, not to view our wonderful church, but just to
buy two large Christmas puddings!
Normal service will be restored this year when more Christmas puddings will be available…
Sue Pickard
Organiser
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Journey into Science began life in the late 1990s with the vision that a church like St Mary
Redcliffe, standing at the heart of Bristol, should be as much a special beacon for the public
appreciation, engagement, discussion, and pondering of the sciences, as it is for the arts. For
twenty or so years JiS was immensely successful in attracting audiences from across the city as
well as from the congregation and parish, with many people attending who had never been
inside the church before. More recently, as old hands have moved away, the dynamic has
slackened, but the opportunity remains as powerful as ever, and with new visions for the role of
SMR in the community, and with increasing concerns about the powerful challenges and
opportunities with which science and its applications confront society, is the time to build on past
achievements see the programme renewed.
If this is an area which concerns you also, and is something to which you might contribute, please
do let me know and we can discuss further. Your contribution could be crucial.
Throughout we have been keen to collaborate with and promote other organisations with related
concerns and in recent years this has included Christians in Science and their programme. Our
focus has been slightly different in that we also engage with those outside the Church.
Another organisation we are very much involved with is the Society of Ordained Scientists, and
once again SMR hosted a meeting of their Southern Chapter last November. On this occasion the
Rev Canon Ian Ainsworth-Smith (MBE for services to NHS) whose life of ministry has been in
hospital chaplaincy in St George’s Hospital, Tooting, led a discussion on ethical decision making
in medicine. I and Kumyul Albone are Associate Members of SOSc, so it is not necessary to be
ordained to be involved and if you would like to know more please let do me know. SOSc are keen
to continue their link with SMR.
Our Chaotic Pendulum in has been doing ticking away in the north transept since the autumn of
1997. It continues to intrigue and has meanings on many different levels. Initially devised by the
late Professor Sir Brian Pippard FRS for his inaugural lecture “Reconciling Physics with Reality”
as Cavendish Professor of Physics in Cambridge in the 1970s, this is the only place where this
device is on public show. Sir Brian had close personal links with Bristol, and was so proud to work
with us in bringing the pendulum into our church. It continues to attract a lot of visitor interest
and is also an important witness that our church embraces a scientific understanding of the world.
Again we thank the vergers, Kumyul Albone, Rob Knight (who constructed the chaotic pendulum
those years ago) for all they have done in the year to keep the pendulum functioning so well. It
had been remarkably trouble free over its 20 years with us, not least because Rob is always on hand
when problems arise.
Eric Albone, Convenor
eric.albone@gmail.com
61

This is an informal group for making and meeting friends over a simple shared meal as everyone
brings either sandwiches for 2 or fruit for 2. Coffee or tea, china and comfortable seats are
provided, usually in the home of one of the organisers. The idea of an informal meeting for a
friendly chat over a simple lunch was originally started by Nicole Robinson some 18 years ago
and has been going ever since.
Nicole thought that the few minutes after a church service was not really long enough to get to
know anyone, and certainly not long enough to talk to more than one or two people and so Pot
Luck Lunch was born. The name is indicative of the surprise that may await the content of the
sandwiches or the type of fruit in season. Sometimes small pieces of pizza or quiche arrive that
may have been left over from a weekend party the day before. We have even been known to
celebrate the Christmas spirit in non-alcoholic style, to say nothing of special birthdays of a PLL
member!
Pot Luck Lunch is normally held on the first Monday of each month and usually takes place at
the Pickard’s, with a reminder and contact number for directions if required, given in the Pew
notes the previous Sunday. However, during 2017, owing to holidays and family visits, it was not
always convenient to hold PLL at the usual venue, so I am very grateful to Rosie, Marion &
Audrey who hosted the event on these occasions.
Anyone who goes to SMR is welcome as we like to make new friends, and there is no
commitment to come every week, just turn up whenever convenient. At the moment about 8 -10,
mainly mature (!) ladies attend each month and the conversation is as varied as the composition
of the group, hardly ever being the same from one month to the next!!
Sue Pickard
Co-ordinator
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Registered Charity No. 1134120
Parish Office
12 Colston Parade, Bristol BS1 6RA – 0117 231 0060 – parish.office@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Vicar
Revd Dan Tyndall
0117 231 0067
07769 296220
dan.tyndall@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Twitter: @DanTyndall
Assistant Clergy
Revd Canon John Rogan
Revd Canon Michael Vooght
Revd Canon Neville Boundy
Revd Peter Dill
Operations Manager
Peter Rignall
0117 231 0073
peter.rignall@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Admin Executive
Evelyn Burton-Guyett
0117 231 0064
evelyn.burton-guyett@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Admin Assistants
0117 231 0060
Pat Terry
pat.terry@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Ros Houseago
ros.houseago@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Education Officer
Sarah Yates
0117 231 0072
sarah.yates@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Associate Vicar
Revd Kat Campion-Spall
0117 231 0070
kat.campion-spall@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Senior Churchwarden
Richard James
0117 966 2291
richard@bristolbound.co.uk
Junior Churchwarden
Elizabeth Shanahan
07808 505977
eshanahan21@gmail.com
Vergers
Matthew Buckmaster (head)
Carys Underdown
Andy Carruthers
0117 231 0061
verger@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Director of Music and Organist
Andrew Kirk
0117 231 0065
andrew.kirk@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Assistant Organists
Claire and Graham Alsop
Research Assistant
Rhys Williams
0117 231 0068
rhys.williams@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Cleaner
Sally Trivett
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