What is the Brislington and St Anne's Christian Network?

Beginnings

Brislington, St Anne's and Broomhill are three neighbourhoods within the wards of West Brislington and East Bristlington. That's the geographical facts. The history and the future is much more complex.

In the early 1990s, the six churches then active in Brislington, St Anne's and Broomhill joined together in a formal covenant, and began workign together in a more ecumenical way: exploring opportunities for sharing worship, theology and action in the local neighbourhoods surrounding each church.

This was certainly not a new initiative in the Christian church, but it was definitely a challenging action to take. The six churches represented three distinct christian denominations (Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed), and there were — and remain in some places — many tensions between how each denomination comes to God. But the underlying principle behind the formation of the churches together in Bristlington and St Anne's was that it is vital that, as united Christians, worshipping one God and holding the same beliefs that Jesus is our salvation, we can and must find ways to work togther which help build God's Kingdom, right here, right now in Earth. Jesus taught the unity of faith and the local ecumenical project in Brislington and St Anne's is but one example of how Christians are trying to bring that about.

Where we are today

Since its creation, the united work of the churches in the area has ebbed and flowed. It would be disingenuous to claim that it had all been plain sailing, but after fifteen years of working together, a lot has been achieved — and we have all grown in the process. Importantly, the churches do not regard themselves as the sole christians in Brislington and St Anne's. Many people live and work in the neighbourhood who are active and practising Christians but who may have little to do with the (now seven) chrches who come together under the bannder of Churches Together.

Whilst this website is currently simply concerned with the lives of the seven churches, there is scope for this to enlarge and to engage with many others in Brislington, St Anne's and Broomhill who lead a Christian life.

This website is growing slowly. Please browse around the various articles describing our work together, and our future plans.

If you have any thoughts to add, please let us know here.