Bronze Eco Award

Congratulations St Barnabas! Through our hard work engaging in how we can be an environmentally sustainable church we have achieved the Bronze Eco Church Award. This award reflects our commitment to being good stewards of our amazing planet in our Worship and Teaching, Management of Church Buildings and Land, Community and Global Engagement and Lifestyle. We have been engaging in this in various ways such as establishing our wildflower garden, telling others about why we want to look after the environment, praying for our planet and looking out how we as a church can sustainably use our resources. A big thank you to everyone who has been involved and especially Dr Ian Todd, who is working so hard to ensure that we can be a sustainable church which loves and cares for this wonderful world which God has given us. It's great to have this award to recognise our hard work but we aren't finished! We are excited to continue to think about how we can be an Eco church and to go for the Silver and then Gold awards!

If you would like to find out more about how we as a church can look after the environment do talk to Ian. You can also look at the Eco Church website (https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/) and the Church of England's website (https://www.churchofengland.org/about/policy-and-thinking/our-views/environment-and-climate-change). If you have any thoughts about how we as a Church can continue to look after the environment please share them or if you would like to be involved please do. We believe that as the beloved children of God we all have been given this planet by God and that we should look after this gift.

As we think about how we as a church can love and care for our environment why not think about how you as an individual can do this. At the moment we are looking at Resolutions at our Sunday morning Together at Home services, why not have a New Year's Resolution to make one change to your lifestyle to look after our planet?

Here is some thoughts from Pippa Daniels, our intern - 'Lockdown has really helped me to appreciate nature and the environment. On my daily walks I enjoy looking at the different plants, feeling the wind in the face and the sun in my eyes. I've realised how important nature is and how our actions affect the environment. There has been various stories in the news about how nature has changed this past year, like how the lack of water traffic have meant that fishes are back in Venice's canals. I've been challenged by this to think about how I can live a more sustainable life and make some small changes that have a big difference. For example, to decrease the amount of plastic I use, I have stopped using liquid soap in plastic bottles and now I use soap bars instead. It's been a great change, not only have I cut down on the amount of plastic I use but soap bars are a lot cheaper and there are lots of Fairtrade options so that I can make sure that the people who make the soap are paid fairly.' What small changes could you make to love and care for the environment?

Thank you again to all those who have been involved in helping to make our church more environmentally sustainable, we look forward to continuing to care for our planet both as a community and as individuals.

To close, here is a prayer that has been shared by the Church of England,

May God who established the dance of creation,

Who marvelled at the lilies of the field,

Who transforms chaos to order,

Lead us to transform our lives and the Church

To reflect God's glory in creation.

Sharing Memories

Places and experiences mean different things to different people and one of the best things about celebrating our history is finding out those "little stories" that you wouldn't know about if you weren't there. Our past often informs our present and it's been amazing to hear some of the experiences over the past 80 years. Of course, there will be hundreds and thousands of memories from different people over the years, but here are some!

Mike and Gill

Our first contact with St Barnabas was a sad one. My mother died in 1995 and Crispin Pemberton (the vicar at the time) agreed to conduct her funeral and thereafter, we decided to worship at St Barnabas and were warmly welcomed into the congregation.

At the time, the church was a little "worse for wear" after a fire in the vestry had discoloured most of the church and it was not long before we were caught up in the ongoing fundraising for the restoration. From then on this seemed to take over my life for the next few years because somehow, and I am not sure how, I found myself a Church Warden along with my mentor and guide, Gerald Dee.

The congregation were quite fantastic, having already raised money for a new organ, heating system, toilet and kitchen, they set to work on another bout of fundraising an in all raised £150,000, which together with insurance for the fire damage and grants from various other organisation paid for the restoration. This is my second abiding memory of St Barnabas, the generosity and hard work that the congregation were willing to give to the church as part of the stewardship of the House of God.

Thirdly, we have always enjoyed the music in the church with its wonderful acoustics. The sound of the Churchdown Male Voice Choir and the combined sound of the Crypt choirs backed by the organ, piano, brass band and orchestra brings tears to the eyes.

Margaret and Tony

I went to St Barnabas when I was younger and married my first husband there in 1968, who sadly passed away. I later met Tony and we were married in Hucclecote Methodist Church in 1989.

I came back to St Barnabas when our youngest grandson was baptised. The vicar at the time (Helen Sammon) asked whether the church could use him as baby Jesus in the nativity at Robinswood! Our oldest grandchild was Mary, the middle was the angel Gabriel and baby Owen was Jesus. We went to a barn on the hill and it was absolutely beautiful and an amazing nativity service. The service was so magical and people were so warm and welcoming that I decided to come back to St Barnabas.

I've always had my faith but hadn't had a strong enough draw to attend church regularly. When I went back to St Barnabas I joined the music group, went to church more regularly and was Confirmed the following May!

Pat Davies

A full recollection of Pat's memories can be found on the "Our Roots" page.

I was born on St Barnabas day and baptised in August 1939 in the Lambert Hall, where I also used to attend Sunday School once the church had been built. Miss Muriel Arnold was the Superintendent. From the age of 7 to 11, I attended the group called the King's Messengers. We met every Friday evening in the vestry under the eagle eye of Miss Arnold, followed by Mrs Violet Blackford. We used to embroider tray cloths, table cloths and peg bags to provide a stall at the Autumn Missionary Sale.

I was prepared for confirmation at the age of 15 years by the Curate, Harry Clarke, a very popular and cheery fellow with a northern accent. He held classes in the vestry every Friday evening.

For several years, the Young Wive's Group performed a Nativity play, which lasted for about 1.5 hours. All the members took part with the addition of their offspring for angels and pages. The first year, my mother was a King and I had to carry a gold casket. A great deal of effort was put into acquisition of authentic looking costumes. The story was told by using passages from the Bible interspersed by the Wive's Choir singing a wide variety of carols appropriate to the scene being portrayed. I was relieved to graduate to the Choir after having been a page for a couple of times! Marjorie Williams was the producer.

I was married at St Barnabas on April 15th 1966. Fiona, my elder daughter was baptised at Easter 1968 and married here on 20th August 1994. Alison, my younger daughter was married here on 8th August 1997. My then teenage daughters gave a number of concerts over the years to raise money for the church. Fiona plays the oboe and Alison, the flute. In April 2009, Fiona and her wind quintet gave a concert in memory of my parents and raised money for a new electronic grand piano for the Church.

Colin

A full recollection of Colin's memories can be found on the "Our Roots" page

My parents occupied the same house on Stroud Road from 1952 until 2017. Through my mother's involvement in many church organisations, including Young Wives Group, Mother's Union, PCC an Diocesan Synod, I was aware of a lot of the events in parish life throughout my childhood and teenage years of the 1950s and 1960s. I myself was a member of the kindergarten and junior Sunday Schools, a chorister from age 7 to 13, a server from 13-30, a Sunday School teacher, and a Wolf Cub.

I have many memories of Church organizations and events, also the people involved. I think it is true to say that the Church was the centre of my social life throughout my childhood and teen years. I recall Church summer fetes at The Sheephouse in Tuffley Ave., Harvest Festivals ad Suppers, the Produce & Handicraft Shows, drama productions by the St. Barnabas Players. And the jumble sales (for Young Wives, MU, Scouts, etc) which were so huge they filled the two halls and the kitchen in between, with crowds waiting outside which rivalled the Oxford St January Sales.

Linda

I was baptised at St Barnabas in March 1949, I was confirmed there in February 1962. I was married there in August 1971, and both of my children were baptised there. I think I have one photo near the stone font at the back of church. My daughter was also confirmed at St Barnabas in 1992, I think. My parents were married at the church in 1945, by the Rev’d Lambert, and my mother was confirmed there.

I went to Sunday school which was run by John and Mary price, and subsequently was a junior class Sunday school teacher. I was also a member of a church youth group, called The Lot, because we were referred to ‘as that young lot’ by older members of the congregation.

We used to meet on a Sunday evening, after evensong, in the small hall, which we were allowed to decorate to brighten it up. Our leader was the curate at the time, the Rev’d Roy King, who, when he left to take up a position in Swanage, promised he would come back to marry any of us. This was no mean feat, as he rode a moped, and it was a long trip to officiate at several of the group’s weddings, including mine.

The only time I did not worship regularly at St. Barnabas, was when I was away at teacher training college, although I still attended when I was home in the holidays, until my parents moved to Hucclecote, and I went there for a short while. I also sang with my daughter in the church choir for a while in the early 1990’s.

I was taught by Peggy Whitfield, who was a long term member of the congregation, and who has recently died, and also Joe Green, who died a few years ago. I have been part of the Family Praise team for around 10 years, and help with teas, and cleaning, singing in the music group, and I am part of a home group.

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Do you have any memories of the church? We'd love to hear them so please do comment below!

A Trip through History

“We Will Arise and Build” – Nehemiah 2:20

There is a spot, bright, pleasant to be found

Place of high hopes and interests profound

O’er Tuffley Bridge, ‘neath Robinswood it lies-

Summit of moment to so many eyes,

Tis Tuffley’s hope to build a House of God

A fine new Church upon this soft green sod,

This wish lies deep in many a heart today,

Through difficulties may be in the way

And Tuffley’s Vicar, triumphing o’er fears

Sees in this Church his hope of many years

From out this Church God’s Message yet shall ring

And praise and prayer ascend to Heaven’s King

There shall be larger room for souls to come

And find in God’s own House a rest and home

In prayer continuing – with hands not slack,

United in one aim – all shall look back

In time to come, on purposes fulfilled –

So let us all today “Arise and build”

A.G.F.

New Tuffley Church Consecrated: Culmination of 20 Years of Work - Gloucester Journal, 1940

The results of 20 years work in Tuffley was recognised by the large gathering of people, including the Mayor and Corporation who attended the consecration of St Barnabas Church on Saturday. “The consecration of this spacious and imposing church is the culmination of a long period of effort extending over more than 20 years” said the Bishop of Gloucester (Dr A.C.Headlam) who performed the ceremony.

When I first came to this diocese, Tuffley was just a district of the parish of St Paul’s. The temporary church had been erected and was burdened with a very heavy debt. Since then, the debt has been paid off, the parsonage built and St Barnabas made a separate parish. Now at the end of it all comes the consecration of the permanent church and it becomes a fully equipped parish.

The church, which cost over £13,000 to build, was designed in the modern perpendicular style by Mr Cachemaille Day, and was build by Messrs W. T. Nicholls Ltd. It seats 500 people and is typical of the modern trend of architecture with its simple lofty lines and well-lit interior. The large window at the east end, together with tall narrow windows along the sides, give it a bright and clean appearance [….]

Long before the ceremony was due to commence the church was packed and there were many people who could not be accommodated inside. The Mayor (Mr Trevor Wellington) and Corporation, with the City Member (Mr H.Leslie Boyce) and Mrs Boyce and the Sheriff (Col.J.H.Collett) and Mrs Collett attended in state and were given reserved seats.

The ceremony began outside with the presenting of the petition to the Bishop praying that he would consecrate the church. The petition was signed by the incumbent, the Rev T W Lambert, the churchwardens (Mr E. Bernard Evans and E.H.Clifford) and other parishioners and it was present to the Bishop by Mr F.W.Duart-Smith, the chairman of the building committee at the main entrance to the church. A procession led by the Cross bearer and choir then made the circuit of the outside of the church singing the hymn “Blessed City, Heavenly Salem”. […]

“When I see all those rows of ill constructed houses, I feel that not only are they hygienically harmful but injurious to the souls of those who live in them” said the Bishop “I hope that in any efforts made in the future for the better housing of the poor and people of this country every effort will be made to make our cities not only convenient, but also beautiful to look upon”

Before the congregation sang the hymn of St Barnabas "O Son of God” during the service, the vicar expressed his personal appreciation and thanks for the encouragement from the whole congregation of Tuffley so that the building of the church might be brought to a successful conclusion. They were still liable for about £8000, which, he said, was not much when they thought of the amount that could be spend on organs of destruction.

The consecration was completed by the celebration of Holy Communion yesterday morning, when the Bishop of Gloucester was the celebrant.

Thank you to those who so carefully recorded and collated these events so that we may still read them today. Thank you also to Gloucester Archives for keeping them safe all these years!