St Ambrose, Westbourne, Bournemouth

06/09/2026

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

Please note that there will be NO 8:45 a.m. Mass or 5:30 pm Evening Prayer at St Ambrose Church today, Saturday, 5th September, because Fr Adrian and pilgrims from our church will be at Glastonbury Abbey for the Annual Pilgrimage. Please pray for us and for the Pilgrimage.

03/09/2026

This year’s Glastonbury Pilgrimage is on Saturday, 5th September. Michael has booked a 16-seater coach that will leave from St Ambrose Church at 9 a.m. to arrive in Glastonbury at around 11 a.m. This gives us plenty of time to find a good place in the abbey grounds for the Solemn Concelebrated Mass at Noon.
🔸Principal Concelebrant: The Rt Rev'd Paul Thomas, SSC, Bishop of Oswestry and Pilgrimage Chairman
🔸Homily: the Rev'd Dr Peter Anthony (Vicar of All Saints Margaret Street)

We may then have our packed lunches and explore, whilst the healing sacraments of Anointing and Confession will be at various stations on site.

At 3 p.m. we shall take part in the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament from St John's Church, through the High Street and Magdalene Street, to the Abbey for Solemn Benediction. Please encourage participation in the Procession of clergy, servers, thurifers, taperers/acolytes (ideally robed) with church banners (GSS, CBS, SOM, MU, parish, etc.), thuribles, candles, lanterns (but not crucifers: there is no processional cross) and general supporters.
🔸 Benediction address: The Revd Alice Watson, the new Vicar of Glastonbury.

There will then be time for optional refreshments before the coach collects us at about 4:30 p.m. We expect to return by about 6:30 p.m.

To book your place on the coach from St Ambrose Church (£31 includes coach travel and pilgrim service book - additional copies may be bought on the day for £11) please either add your name to the list in church or email [email protected] or call 07568 327 353.

https://glastonburypilgrimage.co.uk/

03/09/2026

C of E accused of ‘mixed messages’ on value of ordination

03/09/2026

He walked into Beirut alone, unarmed, trusting men he had no reason to trust, because four hostages needed someone brave enough to try. Terry Waite had already secured the release of hostages in Iran and Libya, so when the Church of England needed an envoy to negotiate in Lebanon, he didn't hesitate. In January 1987, he arrived in Beirut believing he'd been promised safe passage to visit ailing captives. Instead, his captors broke their word and seized him.

What followed was almost unthinkable. Terry spent 1,763 days in captivity, the first four years entirely in solitary confinement, chained to a wall, denied books, denied contact, denied any certainty he'd ever see home again. Most men would have been consumed by despair. Terry wasn't. He composed poetry in his head, held onto his faith, and quietly resolved that bitterness would not be the thing that defined him.

When he finally walked free in November 1991, church bells rang out across Britain in celebration. He could have spent his remaining years angry at what was taken from him. Instead, he chose forgiveness, dedicating his life to charity work and supporting former hostages who understood, better than anyone, what he had endured. That's not just courage. That's true British grit.

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

The William Temple Association, Bournemouth Branch, has just published its Programme of Meetings Autumn 2026 – Spring 2027.

5 October 2026
Faithworks: Bringing practical help, relational support and spiritual hope to people in
hard times
Mr. Alistair Doxat-Purser
Chief Executive Faithworks Wessex

2 November 2026
Hilfield Friary – Ecotheology and Laudato Si
Brother Hugh SSF
Member of the Society of St. Francis

7 December 2026
Gaudete! The Joy of Christmas
The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos DL
Dean of Salisbury Cathedral

4 January 2027
The Kingdom of Heaven has Come Near
Mr Michael Jones
Retired Theatre Producer MA in Theology, Imagination & Culture

1 February 2027
The Lost City of Geshur: Excavations near the Sea of Galilee
Dr Chris Sinkinson
Associate Minister & Programme Director for School for Discipleship at Lansdowne Church, Bournemouth.

1 March 2027
Reaching the Secular Mind: Insights from Lesslie Newbigin and Charles Taylor
The Reverend Dr. Paul Weston
Fellow of Ridley Hall Cambridge and Director of the Newbigin Centre

5 April 2027
Albert and the Lion: Did Einstein believe in God?
The Reverend Chris Steed
CofE Minister, Writer, Theologian and Educator

10 May 2027
Topic to be confirmed
The Bishop of Wi******er’s representative

The new season starts on October 5

31/08/2026