From the Vicar's Desk - 5 February

Welcome to From The Vicar's Desk for 5th February


In the beginning was the Word ...

It may seem odd, so soon after Christmas and the (usually) magical reading of this gospel passage to a packed church in the middle of that night that ushers in the incarnation, to hear it read once again on a potentially wet and windy February morning. We have left Christmas with Candlemas last weekend and we await the arrival of Lent on Ash Wednesday. We are in a liminal space between significant events in the church's calendar; we are in a waiting zone between the celebration of the incarnation and a period of preparation prior to Easter, between the abundance of Christmas and simplicity of Lent .. and into this waiting room walks the Word, to underline the truth of the waiting, the difficulty of the waiting and the experience of waiting whilst "all things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being".


Ash Wednesday : 17 February

Do join us for a special service on Zoom (details to come) and click here to sign up to receive some ash for the service which was created at the end of the Service for Candlemas.


Lent Journey of Prayer

For full details about our Lent programme on Prayer, click here. 


Joyce Tyley funeral

Joyce Tyley's funeral will be in church at 2.30pm on Tuesday 9th February. Under the current restrictions we are limited to the number of people who can attend in person. The service will be live streamed on SMR Live and the order of service is here. 


Redcliffe Emergency Foodbank

We are continuing to support neighbours in Redcliffe who are facing financial crisis with food parcels. Can you help by donating some food? Donations are currently being accepted at Faithspace Flat (at the back of the centre) on Wednesdays between 10am - 1pm. We are currently low on the following items:

- tinned fruit 

- tinned vegetables 

- tinned meat or fish 

- jams 

If you are not able to deliver your donation on a Wednesday, please click here to see alternative donation points.


Virtual Quiz Night : Wednesday 10 February

An opportunity to meet with others from church and to get our "little grey cells" working. The quiz is free to enter and will be on Zoom. If you'd like to know more drop an email to smrquiz@needlevision.co.uk. We look forward to quizzing with you and giving your little grey cells a work out.

Liz Hewitt; Chris Duncan; Belinda Phillipson


If anyone else would like to organise another online church social event (coffee morning, wine tasting or anything else) please do get in touch with Kat - it's good to things to look forward to!


Night Shelter appeal 

Thank you to those who have already given generously in support of the Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter: we topped £1000 mark this week. If you haven't yet donated, and would like to, the link is here. 


Parish Giving Scheme - it's gone digital

Until a week or so ago, I had no idea that it has been very difficult to get through the PGS on the phone! For those of you who have been persisting (or have given up!) the good news is that PGS has gone digital!! Click here to start the process which (I've been told) is "an easy process and much quicker and easier than by phone. Clear info section answers all questions about security, comms etc" Just keep an eye on your spam folder for the activation link!


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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An Update from Dan Tyndall

By sam.love • July 29, 2026
A year ago I preached my final sermon as Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe. Sarah and I were overwhelmed by the kindness of the send-off and your astonishing generosity. The following morning we packed everything we owned into a Transit van and drove it to London. If you think that felt abrupt, you'd be right. More than that, moving to London, when most retirees move away from the city, has been commented on many times. People often ask whether leaving was difficult. It was; very! However, the sheer scale of the change changed pretty much everything and all at once. Whilst we miss SMR and everything it stands for, a new home in a new city, with new routines and the freedom to shape our days differently, means that life has demanded our full attention from day one. The year since has been full of surprises. We've discovered that we enjoy living in a much smaller house than the vicarages we've lived over the last thirty years. Sarah now walks to work and I clean the house. We still haven't settled into one church, but we've enjoyed going to different churches and experiencing the extraordinary breadth of the Church of England. Without question, the greatest joy has been the birth of our first grandson. Living just an hour away has been an extraordinary gift, allowing us to be part of his life in a way that would never have been possible from Bristol. Professionally, coaching has continued to grow alongside research into leadership in complex parish churches. Personally, there has been time for lots of singing and I’m getting back on my bike again! Together we've made over fifty visits to theatres (including a fantastic production of Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse a musical about an historic event that happened in the parish!), concerts and exhibitions—most recently The Art of Mini Golf, which was every bit as joyful and ridiculous as it sounds. Do I miss parish ministry? Of course I do. But I'm discovering that my vocation didn't retire when I did. I'm still curious about how people tick, what makes communities work, and how to name the question that unlocks a stuck situation. Thank you again for all the remarkable years at SMR. We remember them fondly and they continue to shape us in ways for which we shall always be grateful. Dan Tyndall 29.07.2026

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Last Sunday marked the end of another choir term—and what a term it has been! We've welcomed new choristers, learnt plenty of exciting music, sung for some wonderful liturgies, and eaten what can only be described as a significant amount of biscuits. The day began with a very special visit from Sing Start! , who joined us for the Eucharist. Together we sang Litany of the Holy Spirit and Joanna Forbes L'Estrange's St Helen's Mass. A huge thank you to Helena from Children's Church for organising ice creams afterwards—a thoroughly appreciated post-service treat! We're also delighted that a large number of Sing Start! children will be joining our regular treble lines from September. This is tremendously exciting, not only for the choir's future growth but also for the long-term strength and sustainability of our music-making at SMR. In the evening, we gathered for a special service celebrating the composer Charles Wood, marking 100 years since his death. It was a fitting tribute to one of the great figures of Anglican church music—but the occasion was also notable for another reason. Several of our own choir members stepped into new musical roles and showcased talents beyond their usual singing duties. Our Head Chorister conducted the introit, one of the back-row singers composed the psalm chant, and our Corner Chorister wrote the organ voluntary. It's wonderful to see so much creativity and musicianship flourishing within the choir. The final service of the year was followed by the all-important choir party: pizza and a screening of Sister Act. Judging by the enthusiastic reaction afterwards, there is now considerable demand for I Will Follow Him to appear in a future service. We make no promises—but do keep an eye on next year's music lists... The choir is now taking a well-earned summer break, but music certainly won't stop at SMR. Sunday morning Masses will continue with a cantor leading the music, and we're looking forward to welcoming several excellent visiting choirs over the coming weeks, including St Andrew's Backwell, St Mary's Ross-on-Wye, and the Handful Chamber Choir. Our regular choir returns on Sunday 13 September, refreshed, recharged, and ready for another exciting year of music. Have a wonderful summer, and thank you to all our choristers, families, volunteers, and supporters for another fantastic year.

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