St Michael and All Angels in Bishop’s Cleeve is celebrating after achieving two awards in the space of a month, relating to the care of their Grade I listed church building: a National Church Award and an Eco Church Silver Award.

Lucy Barbour, 38, lives in Gotherington and is being ordained as a Designated Pioneer Minister, meaning that her ministry connects with people outside of traditional church settings and helps those she meets to explore the Christian faith.

Ian Drake, a retired teacher who worships at St Michael and All Angels in Bishop’s Cleeve, shares his experience of leading a church prayer group.

For one week of the summer holidays, a group of young people met in Bishop’s Cleeve to talk about and explore Christianity at a Youth Alpha course.

When St Michael and All Angels Church in Bishop’s Cleeve completed its initial Eco Church Award questionnaire, they were delighted that they immediately qualified for a Bronze Award. The church was already doing a lot of work around environmental awareness and action, fast-tracking them to their first initial award.

Church bells rang out across the country at the beginning of May to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla. One Gloucestershire bell ringer shares her fascinating story of ringing bells for a number of historic royal occasions spanning 70 years.

The Revd Malc Allen, Rector at St Michael and All Angels Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham, and Trainee Pioneer Minister Lucy Barbour have been taking their congregation outside for a special monthly service on Cleeve Hill near the golf course.

Sister Pat Holland has ministered at St Michael and All Angels in Bishop’s Cleeve for the past 22 years. She’s been a faithful member of the Church Army for 53 years. We give thanks for her ministry and look back on some of the moments in her life.

Kathryn Lea and Sarah Parkes share their views of the Foundations in theology, ministry and mission course.