From the Vicar's Desk

From the Vicar's Desk - 19 February

Whenever the rainbow is in the clouds ...

Remember the Covenant

First, a heartfelt "thank you" to the crane driver who took this photo yesterday. I'm sorry I can't credit you by name, but it's so amazing I couldn't resist: especially as our Old Testament reading this coming Sunday is of God and Noah talking about the rainbow as the everlasting covenant established between the Creator and all creation to confirm and ensure that God's love is creative not destructive and (to pick up on Paul's letter to the Romans) that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord". Whichever way we look at it, God's love for us is assured.

Lent: A journey of prayer

Each week in Lent, throughout the week, we will be sharing reflections, prayers and other resources for our shared Journey of Prayer here on our website.

Prayer Laboratory

The Prayer Laboratory will be taking place each Sunday in Lent at 4pm and there will be different breakout rooms with a choice of creative and interactive prayers for all the senses. Some prayer activities will require some resources - but this week all you need is an item of food from your cupboard! Read more here ...

Heart Garlands

We had a very encouraging 'turn out' to our two Ash Wednesday services this week. At the earlier service, we spoke about Sharing God's Love, using heart shaped objects around us. Liz shared her artistic talents to produce a video and guide for us on how to make a heart garland with recycled materials. We are being encouraged to engage with this during Lent, as a symbol of our love for all God's creation. How many hearts we can collectively make between now and Easter??

Sunday Evening Service

Throughout Lent, as well as Morning Prayer and the main Sunday service, we are holding a service of Night Prayer which you can download here. The service will be held on Zoom and you can join by clicking here here just before the service starts at 6.30pm

Covid-19 Vaccine

As you no doubt know, all those over 70 and those on the clinically vulnerable list should have been invited to have their Covid job by now. If you are in one of those groups, or know someone who is, who has not yet been vaccinated I would like to encourage you to make an appointment by clicking here or ringing 119.

Constructing the church building

If you're interested in dundry stone, how mortar cures and the deviation / settlement of SMR you might be interested to read more ...

Standing Orders request

Thank you to all those who have set up standing orders in the last few months: it is great to know that we have such a committed group of people seeking to maintain the church and build the kingdom. To all those who have a standing order, we have a little problem ... many of the donations come in without your name attached so we don't know if we're missing out on additional Gift Aid funds. Can I ask if you have a standing order set up for SMR please click here to provide some information to help us out. Thank you.

Send on / Contact me

Please forward this email on those who might be interested in SMR and contact me here (rather than using reply please)

With my best wishes

Dan

Canon D F Tyndall

Vicar, St Mary Redcliffe

0776 929 6220

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Exhibition on Screen

By sam.love • March 18, 2026

Whilst my job title here at St Mary Redcliffe may be Governance & Administration Officer, I am always grateful for opportunities to utilise some of the skills – and connections – I gathered when working in the cinema industry. When I was working as the programmer at The Flavel, a small mixed-purpose arts centre in Dartmouth, I made sure that despite only having one cinema screen, we delivered a diverse and mixed programme. I remember jumping at any opportunity to run any of the Exhibition on Screen films – beautifully crafted documentaries that shed light on artists and their work. Despite barely having enough knowledge of art history to write on a matchbox, I always found these films compelling, and loved the concept of bringing the art gallery experience into a cinema setting. Allowing these magnificent, historic works to be experienced on a large screen, with the ability to zoom and focus in on particular details, always struck me as a wonderful idea. You truly feel like you’re stepping into the paintings. And it seems I’m not the only one taken by these films – a network of over 1500 cinemas regularly screen from Exhibition on Screen’s catalogue of over 40 films in over 60 countries. Their 2023 film Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition even holds the record of the UK’s most successful art film. It is very exciting, then, that we – myself along with the Heritage, Visitors and Commercial department of Rhys Williams, Rebecca Horry and Lucy Marshall – have begun a relationship with Exhibition on Screen to start showing their films in church! We are thrilled to be showing Easter in Art on Wednesday 25th March, and even more thrilled that Phil Grabsky – who founded Seventh Art Productions, the company behind these films, in 1984 – has provided a special video introduction for the screening. We really hope that you can come along and support this screening, so that we may show more of their films in the future. There are a great many to choose from, although we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed that one day they might produce one on William Hogarth and show off the wonderful altarpiece that was painted for St Mary Redcliffe in 1755-56, currently housed at St Nicholas Church. I really hope to see you at the screening, and do keep your eyes peeled for more later in the year. BOOK TICKETS HERE Sam Love 18.03.2026

Sermon on the 15th March 2026

By matthew.buckmaster • March 17, 2026

Preached by the Revd Dr Brutus Green

Staff Update: Rebecca Horry, Commercial Manager

By rebecca.horry • March 13, 2026

As the new season begins, it feels full of potential as new life appears around us and the days grow longer. Spring brings a natural sense of renewal, and it feels like a particularly special time in the life of our church. I’m delighted that our building will be hosting several events that explore the story and meaning of Easter in different ways. One highlight will be hosting Riding Lights Theatre Company presenting Night Falls, a new Passion play by Paul Birch, offering a powerful retelling of the Easter story. We hope it will be meaningful for both members of our congregation and visitors who join us. We are also looking forward to a screening from the Exhibition on Screen series exploring Easter in Art, reflecting on how artists across the centuries have interpreted the Passion and Resurrection. Our church shop continues to welcome visitors and regulars alike. Alongside cards, books, and gifts, I’m pleased to share that we have recently brought a new book supplier on board, helping us widen our range of titles for both children and adults exploring faith and the heritage of the church. I’ve also been delighted to help recruit several new volunteers to help run church tours, and we hope this will allow us to expand our tour offer and share the story of the church with even more visitors. If you see them in the church please help welcome them to the team. Behind the scenes, we continue working to welcome concerts and other events into the church. Our beautiful space lends itself wonderfully to music, and these events not only bring people together but also help support the care and future of the building. Over the coming months, we look forward to hosting a range of concerts and cultural events, welcoming audiences from across the local area and beyond. If you know of choirs, ensembles, or promoters looking for a distinctive venue, please do point them in our direction. Thank you to everyone who supports these activities by volunteering, attending events, shopping in the shop, or spreading the word. Recca Horry , Commercial Manager 13.03.2026