For some years, St Mary’s has given 10% of its direct income* to several selected charities.  The Parochial Church Council (PCC) reviews the list of charities from time to time.

*Direct income excludes money raised through fundraising activities such the annual fete and the current Development Appeal.

The current charities are:

Church Mission Society (CMS)

CMS works to spread the news of Jesus in all parts of the world and in the UK.  It works specially with communities that it sees as on the edge, at the edge of faith or other work.

www.churchmissionsociety.org

 Water Aid

Water Aid works to bring clean water to communities in many parts of the world , with an ambition that one day all people will have access to fresh clean water.

www.wateraid.org

Children’s Society

Originally known as the Church of England’s Children Society, this national charity works in the UK to transform the hopes and happiness of young people facing abuse, exploitation and neglect.

www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Julian House (Bath)

Julian House is a charity that supports vulnerable and at-risk individuals. These include adults and young people experiencing homelessness, escaping domestic abuse, adults with learning difficulties and people who need support after leaving prison

www.julianhouse.org.uk

St Peter’s Hospice (Bristol)

St Peter’s Hospice is a local charity that provides care and support to adults who are living with a progressive life-limiting illness in the Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset area. Most support is provided in people’s homes.

www.stpetershospice.org

In other ways we also support:

Sisters of the Church –Loaves & Fishes Ministry

The Sisters of the Church are a small community of Anglican nuns living and working in Bristol.  In the early 1990’s four Sisters from the community moved to Ashley Road and as part of their lives of prayer and active service, Sisters began giving out small food parcels to about 12 people who came for food each week.

This soon grew and now around 250-300 people seek their help with all kinds of need.  Callers come for food and companionship.  Poverty in the UK is a disturbing reality that the Sisters see every day.

In the Gospel of John 6:1-14 Jesus took a boy’s offering of ‘five small barley loaves and two small fish’ and fed the five thousand.  The sisters and their small army of volunteers are the channels of countless people’s kind and generous donations which is why they  have named the ministry ‘The Five Loaves and Two Fishes Project’.

There is an opportunity to donate to the Sisters of the Church Loaves & Fishes Ministry each month.  For further information click here:

Bristol Diocese Uganda Link

The Link began in 1969 through the friendship of two people, the Archbishop of Uganda, The Very Reverend Erica Sabiti, and the then Bishop of Bristol, The Right Reverend Oliver Tomkins, whose son Stephen was then teaching in Uganda. It is a partnership of two Anglican Churches, sharing friendship in Christ across the world, through mutual prayer, support and continuing understanding of one another, thus opening our concept of the world-wide Church of Christ.

The Uganda Link is not a fundraising scheme, but a partnership in faith.

www.bristol.anglican.org/aboutus/bristoluganda

Christian Aid

Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 41 Christian churches in the UK and Ireland.  It works to support sustainable development, eradicate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. It works with hundreds of local partner organisations in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities in 24 countries. It is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee, The Climate Coalition, The Fairtrade Foundation and Trade Justice Movement campaigns.

St Mary’s actively participates in the annual door-to-door collection, Christian Aid Week, which takes place in May each year.

www.christianaid.org.uk