Niall Blackburn Reflection

I came to St Mary Redcliffe expecting to experience a different worshiping tradition, and I was genuinely excited to engage with it and gain an appreciation for a part of the Church of England that was brand new for me. What I’ve come away with is so much more.

I’ve been honoured to participate in leading you all in worship through Deaconing at the Eucharist, and leading at Choral Evensong and Morning Prayer. More than this, I will take away the inclusive spirit that has permeated every aspect of my time with you. It’s been such a pleasure to see how faith is demonstrated in action and unconditional love.

Spending some time in the community hub/pop up, I loved hearing the ways in which space is being created to help others, and the way this is driven by a desire to see the community support each other. It was also encouraging to see and hear how the church was involved in the planning stages of building projects in the area, and that there was a real desire to ensure that new housing catered for all.

I was delighted to see that both primary and secondary schools have such close links with the church, being invited in for an assembly at the former and attending the end of year service for the latter. Whatever the faith of those who attend the schools, it was a pleasure to see that the values which underpin all they do are loving and seek to give the children the best start in life.

There is such a wealth of history to the church, which is rightly being preserved by the wonderful and dedicated work of the Vestments Conservation Group, but also a commitment to the future and a desire to see the church prosper and have a positive impact in the community for many years to come. This is exemplified in the desire to care for those in the community through pastoral care, the community hub, and also striving to be better stewards of creation.

The church has obvious significance as a historical site, and it’s wonderful to see hospitality that is shown to visitors and the way they are incorporated into the prayer life of the church. It’s a reminder that behind all of the bricks, stonework, vestments, and fabric of the church there are people who are loved, accepted and welcomed because they are made in God’s image.

I would like to take the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to the staff and community, who have been so welcoming and encouraging during my time with you. You’ve let me ask questions, try my hand at new things and make mistakes. All of this has been done with a spirit of love and grace, and I am very grateful.

Niall Blackburn

July 2022

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Sermon on Sunday,10th August 2025

By matthew.buckmaster • August 10, 2025

Preached by the Revd Laura Verrall-Kelly, Associate Vicar

Interregnum Information

By Laura.Verrall-Kelly • August 7, 2025

Keeping You Updated During the Interregnum As I prepare to go on maternity leave at the end of August, I want to share some important updates regarding our Sunday Services and communication during the Interregnum period. We’ve taken time to consider what is sustainable and meaningful in this season of transition, and while some of the changes have been difficult, they are intended to ensure we can continue to worship together well. Service Changes 8am BCP Eucharist We’ve made the difficult decision to pause this service during the vacancy, following a PCC vote (with 3 votes against). This is due to the limited availability of clergy to cover two Eucharist services on a Sunday. We’re grateful that this decision has allowed us to secure strong cover for the other services. If you’re looking for an early service, the Cathedral offers Morning Prayer at 7.40am and BCP Eucharist at 8am. This change to the 8am will happen from the beginning of October. Mattins & Evensong These will continue with support from a growing team of Lay Leaders. If you're interested in helping lead, please speak to Simon Goodman. Please note: bespoke online orders of service will no longer be produced weekly. Instead, we will use a standard booklet and hymn book in church. Online viewers will receive a standard order of service plus a document with Bible readings and hymns. 10.30am Sung Eucharist Some small changes are being made to simplify things for visiting clergy: Notices will be read by a Church Warden, Duty Warden or Church Representative Communion distribution will return to queue formation A Gradual Hymn will replace the Responsorial Psalm - there is simply not the resource to produce a weekly or termly Psalm hand out in church. We’ll use a standard “Eucharist during the Vacancy” order of service (in booklet form), with hymn books provided in church. As with other services, online resources will mirror this setup. These changes to the 10.30am will happen from the 17th August. Christingle Service Due to the scale of this service and the planning it requires, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause it this year. Without full-time clergy to oversee preparations and lead the service, we don’t believe we can deliver it safely or well. We know this will be disappointing, but this service will be back. Ongoing Communication Thanks to Chris Duncan and Sam Love, we will continue to send out a weekly email during the Interregnum. I’m very grateful to both of them for stepping up to support in this way. We know some of these decisions may not affect everyone, while others may feel them more deeply. We don’t expect universal agreement, and that’s okay — your questions and thoughts are welcome and valued. All we ask is that feedback is offered with kindness and respect for those who have worked hard to make these plans in a short space of time. Thank you for being part of this community and for your ongoing support as we navigate this together.