As many of you will know there is always so much more going on beneath the water than appears on the surface. It certainly has been a busy start to the year. We have seen some amazing success stories in our concerts, growth in the community team, increase in heritage tours, and the seemingly never-ending task list in looking after the three sites we occupy and the people working hard within them.

Two weeks ago I visited Salisbury Cathedral with Rhys, Ellie & Chris to discuss the many opportunities and challenges of managing our extraordinary places. The timing of the visit was particularly important as we are currently writing a SMR Business Plan, which will help steer our decisions over the coming years, particularly in relation to ‘Welcoming Heritage Destination’ strand and our future financial sustainability. We also spent a good deal looking at signs, fixings and information boards (fascinating stuff in certain circles I assure you!), and this work will inform the last stage of the North Transept Window project as we look to install appropriate interpretation and commemoration.

I am delighted to share, on the subjects of both interpretation and sustainability, that the Canynges Society have agreed to support work in a number of key areas including a review of the signage and interpretation of the church for visitors. This support also extends to working on further understanding the archaeological setting of the church (more coming on this soon!) and better understanding our visitors and users of our church and community hub. These studies have short term benefits, but also longer term directly impact our longer-term ambitions to improve the facilities at St Mary Redcliffe.

I am grateful to the staff team at St Mary Redcliffe who continue to go above and beyond in their areas of responsibility and continue to amaze me with their passion, creativity, and drive. As with all teams there is almost always some change, and I can share that Sarah Purdon who has been the Parish Administrator since 2019 has decided not to return to work at SMR since the birth of her second child and so we have thanked her for all her hard work and wish her the very best for the future.

In the here and now I am focussing on several important audits and visits we have taking place at the church, including an energy audit being supported by the Diocese of Bristol, archaeological survey, and familiarisation visits by the fire brigade (not to mention getting to grips with changes to employment law, committee meetings, conservation works etc!). These visits will no doubt generate a list of actions which we will look to address in the never-ending job of looking after our amazing church, for now, and for future generations.