Welcome to St Mary’s church, Fishponds!

Nestled in an oasis of green in the urban sprawl of northeast Bristol, next to Fishponds Park, the congregation of St Mary’s Fishponds has been worshiping God and serving our community for over 200 years. We offer a warm welcome to anyone who wants to come, wherever you are on your journey through life and faith, through hospitality, worship, prayer and pastoral support. As half of the benefice of All Saints and St Mary, we work closely with our partner church All Saints. We believe in a God who is compassionate and surprising, just and merciful, and we would love you to join us.

Coming Up

This week:

• Week beginning Sunday 17th May 2026

  

  Laziness breeds laziness.  Excuses breed excuses.  If you are a leader and choose to cut corners, you will find that your followers follow your behaviour.  If, as a leader, you are strict about rules – yet make excuses for when you yourself fall short – you will establish a culture of excuses.  That may sound gloomy; but what about the opposite?

  Volunteers breed volunteers.  I am far more likely to put up my hand, saying “I’ll do that”, when I am confident that I know that others will do likewise in turn.  Who would want to be churchwarden, with all its consequent responsibilities?  Yet, knowing that there are other volunteers doing their bit – and still others who will put their shoulder to the wheel if the warden asks for assistance – then the  role becomes less onerous, and, indeed, pleasurable.  Who would want to be treasurer?  Even worse, who would dare to volunteer to be Safeguarding Officer?  The other day, I read a Safeguarding Policy which was over 180 pages long.  In the midst of all those words, there was only one sentence that truly stood out: ‘safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility’.  We all have our part to play in making this parish safe, welcoming and a breeding ground for faith.  Thank goodness we have people to take a lead, with buildings, money and safeguarding – but everyone has a part to play.

  Edward Thomas wrote a poem called ‘Adlestrop’.  The last verse goes like this:

  And for that minute a blackbird sang
  Close by, and round him, mistier,
  Farther and farther, all the birds
  Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

  In the silence of a train stopping for a moment at Adlestrop station, Thomas hears one blackbird.  Yet, as he listens more closely, he realises that that bird evokes a response from other blackbirds nearby, and that in turn sets off “all the birds of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire”.  Our role as Christians is to live lives of kindness, generosity and holiness.  We do so with the hope that a chain reaction will happen, until all creation is singing to the glory of God.

  PS: Say a prayer of gratitude this week for Church Wardens, Treasurers, Safeguarding Officers, and “all the birds” of All Saints and St Mary’s Fishponds.

  Rev’d Bob

  Services for Ascension Sunday – 17th May

  10:00am Holy Communion, St Mary’s

  10:30am Holy Communion, All Saints

  11:45am – All Saints APCM

  5:00-7:00pm Generations – All Saints – Joint Youth BBQ and Pilgrimage Celebration

  The Week Ahead

  Mon 18th May

  10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints

  Tue 19th May

  10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms

  Wed 20th May

  9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints

  2:00pm – Bible Book Club, St Mary’s

  Thu 21st May

  10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

  Sat 23rd May

  12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s

  Sun 24th May

  8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints

  10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s

  10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints​​

If you wish to worship at home, you may find this service helpful.

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