St Michael's Church, Stoke Gifford
Living to make a difference
We’ve now been using our new facilities for just over a year. But we still have a long way to go.
This project update (May 2016) summarises the story of the Heart of the Community so far, and brings us up to date with the latest fundraising totals and targets.
Whether you’re a longstanding church member, new to St Michael’s or just visiting, it’s well worth a read!
We gather as a church for our Vision Night this Wednesday 20th April.
It’s a great chance to look back together at the past year of life at St Michael’s, and to look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We also enjoy cheese and wine as we meet together.
Our Church Annual Report is available again online:
If you have time – please take a few minutes to see just how much amazing work goes on during a year in the life of the church.
Some printed copies of the annual report will also be available on the night.
Church Vision Night
7.30pm Wednesday 20th April
St Michael’s Centre Auditorium
Everyone is welcome.
The Bishop of Bristol, Mike Hill, officially dedicated the new church and community centre in Stoke Gifford this weekend. It means the building is now licensed by the Church of England to be used for worship, baptisms, weddings and funerals.
Bishop Mike presented the formal documents for the dedication to the congregation of St Michael’s at the evening celebration on Sunday 10 May 2015.
George Lord, a retired member of the local community, received the licence on behalf of everyone who worships at St Michael’s Church.
The first sections of the new building are now open, with the ground floor of the main auditorium seating over 300 people. Fundraising continues for the final phase of the project – to complete the rest of the community facilities, improve the historic church building, refurbish the old school rooms and support outreach projects elsewhere in the UK and around the world.
The occasion is also covered in this article on the Diocese of Bristol website.
The new St Michael’s Church and Community Centre is now in use.
The first sections of the new building are complete – with the main auditorium, the reception area, the church office and the first of several new meeting rooms all now in action.
The St Michael’s 10.30am Sunday service this weekend (26 April 2015) was held in the new auditorium and attended by over 260 people. The building was also used by 170 members of St Michael’s for our annual church weekend together.
St Michael’s 10.30 service this weekend
The new church and community centre is part of our ambitious Heart of the Community project – which is enabling us to fulfil our vision of Living to Make a Difference. The project also includes the refurbishment of our historic church building, the upgrading of the Old School Rooms facilities next door, and funding numerous outreach and anti-poverty initiatives elsewhere in the UK and around the world.
The same view in October 2013
The new centre has been built over the last 2 years on a derelict land in the centre of Stoke Gifford. Our fundraising efforts and our commitment to pray and trust God continue as we seek to raise the final £1.5m needed to complete the project.
In the weeks and months ahead the new space, combined with our existing facilities, will enable us to welcome, serve and provide meeting spaces for more and more people, young and old, from across this community and beyond.