The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport had planned to announce a reduction in the minimum stake on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to £2. At the moment, bets of up to £100 are permitted. The terminals are fast… Read more

Keep praying! The government has finally promised to slash the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) from £100 to just £2. We have prayed a lot about this. Why? Here are some statistics around this social blight. Those who… Read more

In Mansfield Park Jane Austen describes a vicar as having “nothing to do but read the newspaper, watch the weather and quarrel with his wife”. Things have changed. We are fortunate that we have in St John’s a number of… Read more

Some may feel you have known that for a while. However there is one area in particular where we feel that to be the case. Although we have many people who are willing to read the Bible at both our… Read more

We are excited about the arrival of our new Bishop. However, it is not going to happen for a while yet. Dean Faull will need time to bring her work in York Minster to a close. She will then need… Read more

Last year, to mark their 130th birthday in 2018, the Ecclesiastical Insurance Office offered to donate a bonus of £130.00 each time a member of our church takes out a home insurance policy with them. Full details of the bonus… Read more

Next week we start a new series. We will see Paul at his most human and most hurting. In four chapters of 2 Corinthians he describes himself as a “clown” and a “fool”, in comparison with the “super-apostles”. Paul’s converts… Read more

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ I am delighted to let you know that The Very Revd Vivienne Faull, currently Dean of York, has today been announced as the 57th Bishop of Bristol. Bishop Designate Viv, brings great experience of… Read more

The former Pattern Store in Swindon is to be turned into a new church for the town, the Diocese of Bristol has announced. It is a plan by the Diocese of Bristol to support the regeneration of the area, while… Read more

We had hoped to be able to announce the name and location of the new Swindon Resourcing Church at the APCM. Unfortunately, due to a lastminute delay, we were unable to do that. However, it seems possible that we might… Read more

Even more cloak-and-dagger is the name of our new bishop. However, I don’t think we will be waiting long. There will be a simultaneous announcement made from 10 Downing Street and the steps of Bristol Cathedral in the very near… Read more

Our New PCC will be meeting on Monday at 7:30pm in the quiet room. As ever, we will begin with a service of Holy Communion. We feel this is an essential beginning. t reminds us both of the God we… Read more