Hundreds celebrate from across whole Spectrum of Christian community

Over fifty different church related groups and 500 people came together from across the denominations to showcase the work they are doing in the Bristol area on Saturday 5th March.

For the full article see Diocese of Bristol website
http://www.bristol.anglican.org/wordpress/?p=4841

Located in the historic surrounds of Bristol Cathedral the celebration was attended by about 500 people who came to discover some of the rich diversity of outreach and service by churches across the city.

Exhibitors came from across the spectrum of the Christian Church in Bristol. From ASPIRE Bristol to the World Community for Christian Meditation Bristol they all but represented an A-Z of Christian Ministry. Everything was present, from art to youth work, environmental concern to solar heating for churches, messy church to Mothers’ Union, schools work to Street Pastors. A full list of participants is on the website http://www.cross-spectrum.co.uk/.

Throughout the afternoon music groups, singers and choirs performed as a backdrop to the event, which culminated in a joint act of worship and thanksgiving. The Bishop of Swindon and Rob Scott Cook from Woodlands shared a dialogue on new ecumenical movements. The spirit of unity was magnificently expressed by a specially formed ecumenical choir.

We were grateful to the Cathedral for hosting this important event in the lives of Churches Together in Greater Bristol and plans are already underway for a similar event in 2012.

Feedback from the day has been overwhelmingly positive and people are looking forward to the next time.

“Several of us said we were deeply moved at times during the service and that it was an historic occasion, gathering Christians from across the whole body of Christ (including historic denominations and newer churches) together, perhaps for the first time, in Bristol.”

“I am always heartened by seeing the divisions between Christians smudged and eroded ‘that the world might believe’.”
Bishop Lee Rayfield

“I thought it was a wonderful event and we are all in favour of unity among the churches in Bristol, so yes, more for next year.”
Christine Hales – stall holder