Diocese of Winchester

Diocese of Winchester CofE in Hampshire & East Dorset. Interact by sharing your stories and tagging us in your news! Despite our far-reaching geographical bounds.

The Diocese of Wi******er is every church, every person and every expression of faith from the North-Eastern regions of Hampshire, all the way down to Bournemouth, and over the Channel in Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. Together we reach out in Christ’s name to all the people living in our area, with special focus on support for young people and for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged

in our communities, and in bringing Christian perspectives and values – and compassionate action – to the challenges and debates of 21st Century Britain and the world. So the challenge today is to share your good news! Tell stories, ask questions, and most importantly, speak up... because your diocese needs to hear from you. QUICK FACTS

- Founded: 676AD.
- One of 44 Dioceses in the Church of England.
- 2/3 of Hampshire, Eastern Dorset & The Channel Islands.
- 260 Parishes
- 15 Deaneries (groups of parishes)
- 35,000 regular attendees
- 130 Church schools/academies/independent schools
- The Bishop of Wi******er is the Right Reverend Tim Dakin

06/05/2026

A reminder of 'The Upper Room' - our service of prayer, led by several of our youth groups and Taize groups, to celebrate Thy Kingdom Come - a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.

📍 Wi******er Cathedral
📅 Saturday 16 May
🕧️ 6.30pm - 8pm

We hope you can join us!

******er

Last Thursday, we were delighted to be joined by the first-year cohort of curates for a day of training, focussing on 'D...
05/05/2026

Last Thursday, we were delighted to be joined by the first-year cohort of curates for a day of training, focussing on 'Disability Awareness'.

Thank you to Rev'd Katie Tupling, Diocese of Oxford Disability Advisor and Co-Founder of Disability & Jesus, and also to Rev'd Rachel Noel, Vicar at St James Church, Pokesdown, for facilitating the training.

The day including learning about disability and neurodiversity, society and church culture, buildings and faculties and theological approaches.

🙏We pray for our first year curates, that they may continue to grow in faith, wisdom and confidence as they journey on in God's calling.

Beaulieu Abbey Church (Beaulieu, Exbury & East Boldre Churches) has hosted a Sustainable Church Flowers Symposium which ...
04/05/2026

Beaulieu Abbey Church (Beaulieu, Exbury & East Boldre Churches) has hosted a Sustainable Church Flowers Symposium which was a practical workshop for flower teams across the Lyndhurst Deanery.

With home grown blooms and materials gathered from around the area, such as branches, blossoms, seed heads and catkins, they explored new approaches to church floral designs. They compared stories of practices around their churches, the worries and challenges of sourcing environmentally friendly products and how these could be shared across the deanery.

Revd Catherine Cowie said, "There was a real sense of permission in the room, to experiment, to play, and to let go of the idea that church flowers have to look a certain way."

🌺 How is your church re‑imagining flowers in ways that are beautiful, creative, and kinder to the environment?

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer", Romans 12:12. We'd love for you to join us in prayer.Thi...
03/05/2026

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer", Romans 12:12.

We'd love for you to join us in prayer.

This week, we're remembering:
St Mary's, Micheldever
South Wonston Church
South Downs Gateway Churches
Wi******er Cathedral
Christ Church Wi******er
Holy Trinity Church Wi******er

💬 Please do message or comment if you have a prayer request so that we and your wider diocesan family may pray for you.

🙏 This Sunday, 3rd May, we're praying for our Diocesan Synod, the Chairs of the Houses of Laity and Clergy, praying for wisdom and discernment in all our decision making and the direction of our calling.

🌍️ Within the Anglican Communion Cycle, we're praying for the Church of North India (United).

******er

02/05/2026

A special message of thanks from Bishop Philip to all of our parishes across our diocese. Your generosity makes a huge difference.

01/05/2026

What a glorious day they had for the pilgrimage milestone to be unveiled! It was blessed by Bishop Geoff in Southampton last week, to mark the finishing point of the St James’ Way Camino Ingles.

Bishop Geoff said, “It reminds us that we're all pilgrims. We've got a journey through life and the great thing for Christians is that we don't make that journey alone, as Jesus walks alongside us."

Southampton City Council
Camino Pilgrim - CSJ UK









REMINDER: Your church could receive a £1,000 bonus this May! With the Tesco Community Pledge, in partnership with easyfu...
01/05/2026

REMINDER: Your church could receive a £1,000 bonus this May!

With the Tesco Community Pledge, in partnership with easyfundraising, you could receive one of five £1,000 funding pots!

Make sure your church is registered with easyfundraising, then ask everyone in your congregation to sign up in support. Each time they shop with Tesco via easyfundraising by 31 May, your church has a chance to win £1,000.

Find out more and sign up here: https://buff.ly/q067b0F

As we step into a new month, we're taking a moment to highlight all our current vacancies. Please do share this with any...
01/05/2026

As we step into a new month, we're taking a moment to highlight all our current vacancies. Please do share this with anyone who might be discerning their next chapter.

Let's pray for all those in transition, and for the right people to be called to each of these roles.

Clergy vacancies:

Vicar – Old Basing and Lychpit
(Closing Date: 30 April)
https://buff.ly/SNLFEjM

Priest in Charge – Colbury
(Closing Date: 7 May)
https://buff.ly/yZoyCzf

Vicar – Ampfield, Chilworth and North Baddesley
(Closing Date: 7 May)
https://buff.ly/NmZjlqZ

Rector – Arle Valley Benefice
(Closing Date: 21st May)
https://buff.ly/SkC6FkN

Vicar - Lyndhurst, Emery Down and Minstead
(Closing Date: 28 May)
https://buff.ly/SigUBKz

Rector – North Stoneham and Bassett
(Closing Date: 2 July)
https://buff.ly/LPx5jOS

Around the Diocese and beyond:

CAS Ministry Internship – Oakley with Wootton Parish
(Closing Date: 30 April)
https://buff.ly/gOK3AjR

Children and Families Minister – St Mary’s Overton
(Closing Date: 30 April)
https://buff.ly/uL8m0yQ

Headteacher – Hurstbourne Tarrant Church of England Primary School
(Closing Date: 5th May)
https://buff.ly/xFeFulD

Children and Families Pioneer - Loddon Reach Benefice
(Closing Date: 6 May)
https://buff.ly/boKOEp6

Families Minister – Sherbornes with Pamber Churches
(Closing Date: 15 May)
https://buff.ly/cmWX4av

Outreach Worker – Parish of Basingstoke Down
(Closing Date: 22 May)
https://buff.ly/ObXL6S8

Children’s Ministry Intern Year – St Peter’s Yateley
(Closing Date: 29 May)
https://buff.ly/rD1iFmx

Children’s and Youth Worker – Milford on Sea Benefice
(Closing Date: 14th July)
https://buff.ly/xi36lug

👉️ Do you have a vacancy you'd like us to share? Please message us.

Last week, on a beautifully sunny afternoon, 700 pupils and staff lined the chamber court at Wi******er College to welco...
30/04/2026

Last week, on a beautifully sunny afternoon, 700 pupils and staff lined the chamber court at Wi******er College to welcome Bishop Philip as he received the ancient tradition of ‘Ad Portas’.

Latin for ‘at the gates’, the Ad Portas is a formal welcome to distinguished visitors and the highest honour the college can bestow. It has previously been given to members of the royal family, politicians and eminent past pupils known as Old Wykehamists.

Bishop Philip said, “We should be faithful to the rich past by committing ourselves, both college and diocese, to a rich future marked by learning, by serving, by growing and by loving.”

It was a privilege to spend the last few days of my mum’s life at her bedside. Her deep faith was evident even as this l...
30/04/2026

It was a privilege to spend the last few days of my mum’s life at her bedside. Her deep faith was evident even as this life slowly ebbed away.

Our thought for the week, from Revd John Pawson, Area Dean of Eastleigh Deanery.


******er

Over yesterday and today, clergy and lay ministers have been gathering for Handling Conflict Constructively, part of our...
30/04/2026

Over yesterday and today, clergy and lay ministers have been gathering for Handling Conflict Constructively, part of our CMD programme and facilitated by Sue from Bridge Builders Ministries.

Facing times of tension and conflict can be challenging, particularly for those in leadership, as they deal with their own anxieties as well as those of others. This workshop equips leaders to face those situations with greater confidence, resilience and care.

Through teaching, reflection and hands‑on skills practice, participants have explored constructive ways of engaging with conflict, recognising patterns of behaviour under pressure, and developing practical communication tools for emotionally charged moments.

A rich and valuable two days of learning and conversation.

29/04/2026

We invite you to The Upper Room! A service of prayer, led by several of our youth groups and Taize groups, to celebrate Thy Kingdom Come - a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.

📍 Wi******er Cathedral
📅 Saturday 16 May
🕧️ 6.30pm - 8pm

We hope you can join us!

******er

Address

Old Alresford Place
New Alresford
SO249DH

Telephone

+441962737300

Website

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