The Anglican church of Christ the King in Mautravers Close, Bradley Stoke has a new team vicar after the Reverend Paul Hinckley was “licensed and installed” by the Right Reverend Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, at a ceremonial service last month.
Rev Hinckley has also become the ‘incumbent designate’ of the proposed new ecclesiastical parish of Bradley Stoke, which is expected to be created within the next two or three years.
At present, the southern half of Bradley Stoke lies within the ecclesiastical parish of Stoke Gifford, while the northern half, served by Holy Trinity Church, forms part of the ecclesiastical parish of Patchway.
A profile document published by the Diocese of Bristol earlier this year explains: “Bradley Stoke has grown to the point that it now makes sense to reconfigure the parish boundaries and form a single parish of Bradley Stoke, to be served by Christ the King and Holy Trinity churches.”
“The fine details of the new boundaries are still to be decided, and the new parish will include some, or all, of the original village of Little Stoke.”
The document concludes: “While finalising these details will take two to three years, the people in both churches are keen to see their outreach and impact grow in the area.”
Photo: Reverend Paul Hinckley with wife Julie.
This article originally appeared in the December edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to all homes in Bradley Stoke.
Related link: Faith and religion in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)
