Mission
At St. Mary’s we seek to share the love of God with others through our support of mission organisations and our giving, both globally and locally. Our Church’s income is tithed to support organisations which reflect the interests of members of the congregation. These organisations are:
Tear Fund, Scripture Union, Interserve, CMS. We also sponsor an ordinand in training in Tanganyika.
Our congregation takes an active role and strongly supports the Teams4U gift-filled shoe box collection for Eastern Europe at Christmas.
We give annually through our collection to the Poppy Appeal and encourage people to give to the Children’s Society.
Our key mission networks and contacts are outlined below:
Tear Fund
St. Mary’s supports TEAR Fund a Christian charity with over 50 years of experience in international development, believing that poverty is not God’s plan and an end to extreme poverty is possible.
Tear Fund works directly with local partners and churches in underserved communities in more than 50 countries to tackle complex poverty in three main ways:
Humanitarian response
as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Responding quickly to disasters and conflicts, supporting those in greatest need throughout the recovery process.Community development
Partnering with local churches and organisations, mobilising resources and empowering communities to lift themselves out of poverty.Advocacy and influencing
Helping individuals and churches speak out on issues of poverty and injustice, and challenging unjust policies and practices at a local, national and global level.
For further information see www.tearfund.org
Scripture Union
The Christian charity Scripture Union invites children and young people to explore the difference Jesus can make to the challenges and adventures of life.
They have supported St.Mary’s Church over many years with excellent resources and by inviting us to amazing Summer camps featuring great activities. The Scripture Union camp nearest to Woodchester is Lagger Camp at Cam, near Dursley for primary school age children.
As a church we think it is important to support Scripture Union as they actively find ways to reach the 95% of under 18’s not in church. The task is huge but so too is the opportunity. Why not look online and see all the amazing work they do.
For further information see content.scriptureunion.org.uk
Interserve
Via the Interserve mission agency Interserve our Church has supported MARTIN and CATHERINE HICKEY since 2002as they have worked in Nepal, India and the Middle East.
Back in the UK since 2021, Martin has now been seconded by Interserve to work as Communications Manager with SEAN (Study by Extension for All Nations, pronounced 'Say-Ann’). Each year well over 200,000 people undertake SEAN's Bible courses in more than 100 countries and 70 languages in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe etc. SEAN courses are specially designed for use by ordinary people, without any prerequisite for higher education or advanced theology.
SEAN's vision is 'local churches worldwide empowering all their members for whole-life discipleship, mission and ministry in their context'. SEAN's mission is 'to provide accessible Biblical training materials, to partner with others to make them available globally, and to equip others to use the materials effectively in each context'.
Catherine has been working with the Church Urban Fund, which helps churches and other groups to meet the needs around them and create strong and loving communities.
If you would like to receive Martin and Catherine's prayer newsletters and/or contribute to Martin's financial support via Interserve, please email martinandcatherine2@gmail.comor email Elizabeth Macdougall at email (PCC Secretary at St. Mary’s).
For more information on Interserve and SEAN please visit their websites:
CMS (Church Mission Society)
St. Mary’s has supported PAUL and SARAH TESTER since 2009.
They responded to a call from God to work in youth and children’s ministry in Lima, Peru with the South American Mission Society (SAMS). Their role developed to one of encouraging discipleship and training local Church leaders.
SAMS then merged with the Church Mission Society (CMS) and Paul eventually became a manager for CMS overseeing all of CMS’s mission work in Latin America. CMS works with indigenous peoples and pioneers mission work in areas where few people follow Jesus.
Paul also manages about 15 mission partner families in the region and a similar number of mission associates and some short-term workers too. In 2023 the family moved back to the UK from where Paul continues his role, but still visits South America as required.
Sarah is now teaching and their three daughters are enjoying life in the UK. If you are interested in supporting the work in South America or receiving Paul and Sarah’s newsletter please email Paul at paulandsarahinlima@hotmail.com or email Elizabeth Macdougall at email (PCC Secretary at St. Mary’s).
To read more, follow these links:
Link with Näsby Fellingsbro parishes in Sweden
Together with our sister parishes in Rodborough and Brimscombe, St. Mary’s has a long-running friendship with a parish in the village of Frövi, in Sweden – part of the Näsby Fellingsbro parishes.
Over the years we have enjoyed group and individual visits to each other’s parishes. We have been blessed by being able to meet and enjoy hospitality with Christians from a somewhat different culture and background from our own.
As well as hosting each other we support each other as much as we can - sharing in each other’s celebrations and praying for each other’s needs.
A group from St. Mary’s visited Frövi in autumn 2023, and a Swedish group has just completed their visit with us (autumn 2025).
For more information on the churches in Sweden please see the following link: www.svenskakyrkan.se/nasbyfellingsbro.
New Link church - St.Paul’s in Muyama, Western Tanganyika
The Diocese of Gloucester is linked with the Anglican Diocese of Western Tanganyika, a large and mainly rural diocese.
As part of this relationship a direct link has been formalised between St.Mary’s, Woodchester and St.Paul’s church, Muyama in Western Tanganyika.
Tanganyika (or now called the United Republic of Tanzania) is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest, Kenya to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east, Mozambique and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the southwest, and Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west (Google Maps link). Muyama is in Western Tanzania close to the border with Burundi (Google Maps link).
The formailisation of our link with St.Paul’s, Muyama took place when the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Western Tanganyika, Emmanuel Bwatta visited St.Paul’s on 3rd August 2026.
The letter posted below from Bishop Emmanuel introduces us to St.Paul’s and to their mission contact there - Mariamu (Mary). Our mission contact for this link in St.Mary’s is Richard Spencer who will provide us with more details as our relationship with St.Paul’s progresses.
Richard Spencer’s contact details are Telephone | Email
Letter (email) from Bishop Emmanuel 03-08-26
Dear Richard,
Today I had the opportunity of visiting St Paul’s church at Muyama village. I went to tell of their partnership with Woodchester parish. There was a good number of the church elders (vestry). The partnership announcement was received with gratefulness and joy. They asked me to extend their appreciation to you all especially to Woodchester church. They are ready and happy to walk together with you in this path of partnership and friendship in building God’s kingdom together.
They have nominated Mariamu (a member of the vestry) to be a communication person for their side. Mariamu (Mary in English) is a university graduate with a bachelor degree in teaching career. She is a choir singer, a church elder. A beautiful girl with talents and humble. Her father Mr Joseph is also a church elder in the same church. I have included Mariamu in this email for her acknowledgment.
Mariamu, welcome to this partnership between your church at Muyama and Woodchester church in Gloucester, England. You will love working with these new friends. What you need to do is to frequent communications and updates.
I am attaching some photos from today’s meeting with St Paul’s elders. Their church is old but they are building a new. They will send a history of their church shortly for you to know when it started up to now.
Emmanuel Bwatta
Diocese of Western Tanganyika
P. O. Box 13, Kasulu, Tanzania.
Stop Press
Richard has since received the following introductory letter from the Pastor at St.Paul’s
Letter from Rev. Enock Mkula Mapepe 04-08-26 - click here to open the letter
Ordinand Sponsorship
Another form that our link takes is the sponsorship of the training of ordinands so that Christian ministry can be sustainably developed and the Christian gospel brought to the population of Western Tanganyika.
As part of its contribution to Christian mission St Mary’s provides half-yearly grants for the training of two students named Redemta Stephano Mvahagumye and Obadiah Gershon Mpomo.
Redemta comes from Muyama parish (our link parish). She is unmarried. She was a choir member, church elder, Sunday school teacher and is a trained evangelist.
Obadiah comes from Kiyange parish. He is married with six children. He was the choir secretary and is a trained evangelist.
Please pray for them in their studies, and for their families at home.
We look forward to Redemta and Obadiah being “fledged” as ordained ministers, and for St Mary’s in turn to support the training of another ordinand(s).
Can you help give a Bible to our College students in Tanzania? Please see our News Blog here for further information on how you can help
February 2026
In February, a small team from the Diocese of Gloucester visited the theological college in Tanzania where our two sponsored ordinands are studying.
The team visited the theological college a couple of times, observed some teaching, and had some conversations with the tutors.
The new college site is beautiful, it has been landscaped well with an avenue of trees and crops growing around the site, and the staff are keeping pigs!
Currently there are 45 students, 7 women, 9 lecturers. Last year there were 32 students. 11 are graduating this year. There should be 60 students next year.
A new tutors’ block is being built. There are also plans to build a larger kitchen area.
The main challenge discussed with the English team was the size of the library, the lack of computers and of internet access. The library is small and most of the books are in English.