Report on a Meeting of the Bristol Diocesan Synod and Board of Finance
Report on a Meeting of the Bristol Diocesan Synod and Board of Finance Ltd AGM, 20 June 2026, at St Michael's Centre, Stoke Gifford
In his address, bishop Neil spoke of the good which he sees being done in churches around the diocese, and he thanked everyone for their service.
Synod and the board of finance voted to adopt the directors' annual report and financial statement for the year ended 31 December 2025, including an operating deficit of £5 million, and to reappoint auditors, HaysMac, for 2026. You will no doubt recall from my report on the March meeting, that the ten year plan was voted for by synod, including proposals for radical job cuts, both among clergy and administrative roles.
Adam Bond, diocesan safeguarding officer, presented the annual safeguarding report. There is a focus on prevention, compliance is good. There were 204 safeguarding referrals in the year to end of March 2026, from multiple sources.
As regards the diocesan strategy, Transforming Church Together, synod heard updates from three churches, about informal services with emerging lay leaders, a pastoral care scheme, and engaging a congregation in feedback about a church's future, during a period of vacancy. Synod learned about urban missioners, leaders from the community attending a course entitled Prepared, run by the diocese, finding their vocation.
There was a presentation from Geralyn Meehan, director of people and safeguarding, about a proposed leadership diversity survey, to be rolled out across the diocese.
In terms of the environment, in 2024, 4445 tonnes of carbon dioxide or equivalent were emitted by the Church of England in this diocese. Emissions are now 29.8 % lower than the 2021 baseline, demonstrating sustained progress towards the diocese's 2030 net zero ambition. This can be attributed partly to the closure of the Diocese of Bristol Academies' Trust, (the schools have transferred to other providers, so no longer appear in figures for this diocese), but also to increased deployment of photovoltaics and heat pumps. Green tariffs and "wild corners" of churchyards were recommended, and members were urged to attend screenings of the People's Emergency Briefing. (a picture of SMR was shown to synod at this point).
There are 8.5 thousand people attending worship in the Church of England in this diocese each week.
There were separate informal meetings of the houses of clergy and laity.
Thank you for reading this report. I hope that you found it informative. If you have any questions, please ask God. Thank you.
Auriol Britton
