Diocese of Winchester

30/08/2026

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

This week, we're remembering:
Holy Saviour Bitterne
Ascension Church Southampton
Christ Church, Freemantle with Millbrook
Highfield Church
All Saints & St Peter’s Churches

💬 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, 30th August, we're praying for our Archdeacons and for their practical support of our parishes and clergy.

🌍️ Within the Anglican Communion Cycle, we're praying for the Church in the Province of the West Indies.

29/08/2026

A statement on the Big Church Festival.

Join me in praying for the friends, family and loved ones of those affected.

27/08/2026

Next week we enter the season of Creationtide (1 September - 4 October), a time dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. This year's theme is 'Living Water'.

Shared is a link to The Church of England's recent 'Hope for All Creation' publication, a theological response to the environmental crisis. You can also find lots of resources on their website here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/environment-and-climate-change/season-creation

Hope For All Creation is a new teaching document articulating the bishops’ theological response to the environmental crises.

Next month, we have a series of webinars exploring the key themes:

🍃 Tuesday 8 September 5:30pm to 6:30pm - To Tend and to Till
🍃 Tuesday 15 September 5:30pm to 6:30pm - The Five Marks of Mission
🍃 Tuesday 22 September 5:30pm to 6:30pm - A New Heaven and a New Earth

You can find out how to sign up to all of the webinars and the full document here 👉 cofe.io/HopeForAllCreation.

26/08/2026

Congratulations to Marchwood and Eling Parish which has secured a £50,000 grant from the Church of England’s Parish Accessibility Fund, supporting churches in improving accessibility and inclusion.

The funding will help create a fully accessible entrance at St John’s Church, Marchwood through a ramped approach to the east door, improvements to the path and entrance area and handrails. The project will enable wheelchair users, people with limited mobility and families with pushchairs to enter the church safely and independently, subject to the necessary permissions being granted.

Operations Manager Mark Cheshire said, “The project is an important first step in our wider plans to improve accessibility throughout St John’s, including opening up the internal entrance area and upgrading the church’s facilities. Work to a listed church can be costly, and without this grant it would have been extremely difficult for the parish to deliver the project. The funding will enable us to make a lasting and practical improvement that will benefit our congregation and the wider community for many years to come.”

26/08/2026

It's a joy to share that the Reverend Canon Dr Rebecca Lloyd has recently been appointed as the next Canon Precentor and Sacrist of Wi******er Cathedral!

Bishop Philip said, “I’m delighted by Canon Rebecca’s appointment as Precentor. She brings a wealth of wisdom and experience, and I believe her appointment, along with that of our new Director of Music, will usher in an exciting new season in the worshipping life of the Cathedral, which lies at the very heart of its purpose and mission.”

The Bishop of Wi******er and Dean and Chapter of Wi******er are pleased to announce the appointment of The Reverend Canon Rebecca Lloyd as the next Canon Precentor and Sacrist of Wi******er Cathedral.

Rebecca is currently Canon Chancellor and Director of Learning and Participation at Gloucester Cathedral. Rebecca has a lifelong passion for music and holds master’s and doctoral degrees in historical musicology.

The Very Revd Christopher Palmer, Dean of Wi******er said, “I am delighted that Rebecca will be our next Precentor. She brings a wealth of experience in Cathedral ministry alongside pastoral and liturgical skill and maturity. We very much look forward to welcoming her."

Read more: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/news/precentorannouncement/

25/08/2026

Join us in welcoming the new Rector at The Whitewater Benefice!

Rev'd Dominic Thornton and his family received a joyous welcome at a packed service of collation and induction which was led by Bishop Kelly. He was previously Chaplain to St Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke and a member of the Chaplaincy Team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, and prior to that served at St Thomas’ and St Edmund’s in Salisbury.

Rev'd Dominic and his family will be based at St John the Evangelist Church, Hook, Hampshire serving the parishes of Hook, and Heckfield, Mattingley and Rotherwick.

We prayer for him as he begins this new ministry, asking God to bless and guide him, and to strengthen him in all that lies ahead.

📸 Photo credits to Anna Shergold and Lydia Bushman

24/08/2026

Congratulations to St John the Baptist Church in Burley on achieving the Eco Church silver award in recognition of their commitment to care for God’s world.

It follows more than a year of work by the church’s eco team, who have encouraged the congregation and wider community to play their part in protecting the environment.

Changes have been made throughout church life, from a Hive heating system to reduce energy use, recycling food waste after refreshments, to switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products, recycled toilet paper and paper napkins. The church has also stopped using floral oasis in flower arrangements because of its environmental impact.

Eco team leader Bridgette Riley said, “I feel that we've got to look after God's planet and make these changes to ensure that we’re protecting it. We’ve seen the effects of global warming with the recent heatwaves and it’s so sad. If churches can work together, and achieve silver and even gold Eco Church awards, then we've made as much difference as we can to care for God’s earth."

You can read the full article in the news section of our website.

23/08/2026

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

This week, we're remembering:
Twinspires - St Boniface and St John's
Romsey Abbey
The Mid-Test Benefice

💬 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, 23rd August, we're praying for our Bishops Philip, Rhiannon and Kelly; their lead in mission and their oversight, and giving thanks for their office support.

🌍️ Within the Anglican Communion Cycle, we're praying for the Church of the Province of West Africa.

21/08/2026

We're delighted to introduce you to Katie Warner! After spending her career as a GP, Katie sensed God calling her into a new ministry. She worships at St Francis Church, Valley Park and is now a volunteer GP Chaplain at a nearby surgery, offering a listening ear and pastoral support to patients who might be dealing with illness, bereavement, loneliness, relationship struggles or the pressures of everyday life.

Katie is happy to hear from anyone who is considering chaplaincy and would like more information. Her contact details can be found at the end of the news article on our website, linked in the comments.

20/08/2026

It's so wonderful to see our churches taking to the outdoors for their services!

From village greens to pub gardens, you have been creating opportunities for people to encounter God in community spaces. Thank you so much to St Andrews Church Boscombe, Benbinfro Churches, St Leonards Church, Sherfield on Loddon and the Thorngate and Blackwater Churches for sharing your stories!

Does you church hold outdoor services during the summer? 🙏☀️