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What we do

The Friends visit Gloucester Cathedral

We keep our members up-to-date and informed through the following ways:

  • Our notice board in the South transept of the Abbey
  • Bi-annual mailings of the events programme and booking forms in Spring and Autumn
  • An annual report published and distributed each October
  • Our pages on the Abbey's website

Some of our events are held in the Abbey and often highlight a particular aspect of the beauty and interest in the Abbey, or the work of the people associated with the Abbey. Examples include:

Some address an aspect of the history in the city or beyond:

  • A walk round Tudor and Stuart Bath led by our Chairman Dr John Wroughton.

In addition, we hold a number of social events and day excursions through the year. These are usually well attended and popular with members. Examples of recent activities include: 

  • Lunch in the Green Park Brasserie restaurant followed by some musical entertainment by students from Bath Spa University
  • A coach visit to Gloucester Cathedral to take a tour with Pascal, their Master Mason, round the stonemason's yard and meet some of their apprentices
  • A walk round Charlcombe Vale with meditations, led by our Vicar Pastor Revd Claire Robson at each of the three contrasting local churches and finishing up with a picnic by the Holy Well in Charlcombe Church Gardens

Sometimes our events are linked to a local or national charity for which we make a collection. Examples include:

  • A lecture by one of Mission Aviation Fellowship who distribute medical supplies and food to areas in the world inaccessible by road
  • Revd Adrian McConnaughie, one of the Abbey clergy, talking about 'Ministry on the Fringe' describing his work with the Street Pastors, and as Pastor for the local technical college.

Some events are linked to special services within the Abbey such as our Patronal Festival in June and our Advent Carol Service in December.

Some years we venture further from Bath for a longer period. Last year, we enjoyed a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and walked part of the Camino.

We hope that through these events we can provide interest and enjoyment for all ages and keep alive the fellowship between Friends locally.

We welcome visits from Friends from other cathedrals and churches and last year hosted the Friends from Wimborne Minster. If your church would like to visit please contact Mrs Dawn Farmer, our Visitors Officer, on 01225 303310 or email: visits@bathabbey.org

We are delighted when visitors from abroad join us and always like to meet them and make them welcome should they visit Bath again. Just contact the Secretary by email in advance of your visit on roskeypugh@yahoo.co.uk