Wednesday's service of Welcome and Licensing of Laura Verrall-Kelly was marvellous. We were delighted to see people from St Martin's Knowle, where Laura served her curacy, St Luke's Brislington, where she has been curate-in-charge for the last few months, and friends of hers and her husband Jack from across the city and beyond.

As well as people in church, thanks to the wonders of our live streaming, we also had about 40 screens 'on' throughout the service. So a great gathering of people in church and across the ether, praying with and for Laura as she starts her time with us. 

The service was led by Bishop Lee, in probably his last visit to SMR before he retires as Bishop of Swindon at the end of April, and the sermon was preached by the Archdeacon of Bristol Neil Warwick.

Lots of SMR people helped in various ways, including most of the young people who made up the Youth Panel which interviewed the candidates for the post back at the end of November. The service included a procession around the church to various points of symbolic importance where Laura confirmed her commitment to ministry and we dedicated ourselves to share in that ministry with her.

After the service refreshments were served so that we could meet people from other churches and offer a hand of friendship and fellowship to those we were getting to know. 

Laura said of the evening: "It was really affirming and exciting." And who could disagree with that!

You can watch the whole service here