Vision

Glastonbury Tor and Church Credit Jason Bryant

The Diocese of Bath and Wells is one of 41 Church of England dioceses in the country. The diocese stretches from Portishead in the north to Crewkerne in the south, Minehead in the west to Frome in the east.

The diocese loves and serves in the region of 1,000,000 people who live here through its family of 466 parishes and 181 church schools. This family works for the good of local communities in a range of practical as well as pastoral ways; caring for the vulnerable in our societies, supporting local families and encouraging children and young people.

Everything the diocese does is underpinned by prayer and worship and is driven by its vision that:

“In response to God’s immense love for us, we seek to be God’s people, living and telling the story of Jesus.”

We seek to live this story as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world and to tell it, both in sharing the good news and by the way in which our lives speak about Him. 

Refreshing our diocesan vision together

For the past seven or so years we have been living and telling the story of Jesus across Bath and Wells. With a new bishop in place, now seems like a good time to ask ourselves how we are doing that, and how we want to do that in the next season of our diocesan life together.

As he has travelled around our diocese in his first months, Bishop Michael identified four areas that might help us focus our activity in the future: 

  • Valuing and cherishing the people and resources we already have
  • Developing new Christian worshipping communities 
  • Sharing in ministry and leadership
  • Deepening and growing faith

Bishop Michael shares his thoughts on refreshing the vision. Watch on YouTube or Vimeo.

Earlier this year parishes were asked what they think about these four areas, whether they are good areas to focus on and what they look like in your context at the moment. Zoom sessions were held with the bishop and the archdeacons and people were asked discuss them together where they are and to send in their feedback by 30 April 2023. The results of that feedback are now being collated and will help shape the future work of the diocese. A snapshot of the responses received can be downloaded below.

Who to contact

Please email livingandtelling@bathwells.anglican.org should you have any questions.

Downloads

Refreshing our vision feedback – a snapshot

Directions of travel - summary

Refreshing our diocesan vision - guidance for involving young people

Read our Manna mailing on Refreshing our Vision

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