Bordeaux Home
Weekly Anglican services are held at the Chapelle de l'Assomption, 370 boulevard Président Wilson, near the Barrière du Médoc and opposite the British Consulate in Bordeaux. We come from all parts of the world to share our Christian faith and our services are in English. We have been meeting in the Chapelle de l'Assomption for over 20 years. To reach the Chapelle using public transportation: Bus No. 9, Stop: Carnot; Bus No. 5, 6, 46, 72, Stop: Barrière de Médoc.
Who we are Church of England forms of worship are used for all services and we welcome people from all Christian Churches or none. Those who gather at l'Assomption are open-minded and enjoy exploring the Christian faith in its many and diverse expressions. There are encouraging signs of growth with a number of new families joining us for worship. We enjoy a good standard of music and are not afraid to experiment with more modern styles of hymns and music and we also plan to develop our choir which at present rehearses from October for the Christmas Carol service and also for Easter. The Carol Service in 2011 was attended by more than 320 people. The Chaplaincy celebrated 175 years in Bordeaux and Aquitaine in 2000.
Sunday School and a Youth Discussion Group take place on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month (except during school holidays), in order to coincide with Holy Communion services. In this way, children can attend Sunday School leaving their parents in the chapel to reap the full benefit of the service. The children however return to them before the Eucharist so that they can all take communion together as a family unit. Keep an eye on the service schedule. Communion Services and All Age Worship Services are also designed to include the children as much as possible.
Bordeaux Contact Information
Assistant Chaplain of Aquitaine (Bordeaux) The Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
Tel. 05 56 40 05 12, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Click here for the "Bordeaux Church News" archives page
Youth
Sunday School
We provide Sunday School for a wide range of ages.
We are fortunate to have gifted bi-lingual teachers involved with the Sunday School who arrange a variety of activities for the children.
Although English is the general medium of communication, we have children from many parts of the world and we celebrate our differences and our common faith.
The younger children enjoy a lively and creative time together based on bible stories.
The Sunday School/Youth Group meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays during part of the service but we believe that children and young people should be included in our worship and they return to the service in time to share in Communion with their families.
If you would like more information concerning the Bordeaux Sunday School program, please contact Anne Sharp at
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Youth Discussion Group
In the discussion group for teenagers we explore typical questions and issues posed by adolescents such as ‘What do my friends think of me?’; ‘How can I identify a real friend?’; ‘What if I don’t like my teachers?’ and ‘Do I have to go to Church?’
We use Christian precepts and Biblical references to help them through this challenging period of growth and increasing self-awareness.
The Sunday School/Youth Group meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays during part of the service, but we believe that children and young people should be included in our worship and they return to the service in time to share in Communion with their families.
For more information concerning the Bordeaux Youth Discussion Group, please contact Kit Seguin (tel. 05 57 64 82 41) or Jennifer Bearcroft (05 56 40 05 12).
Easter Preparation Workshop held on Saturday, March 31st
An Easter Workshop for the children saw them busy preparing for the service on Easter Sunday.
Flowers were planted and flower pots painted to put at the foot of the cross and eggs were decorated to hang on a branch. The children also made Easter cards and all in the spring sunshine!
Many thanks to our resident Canadian student Lindsey for her help and inspiration. (click on the photos to enlarge)
Services
Forthcoming Services in Bordeaux
May:
Sunday 20 May - 10:30 Holy Communion, Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
Sunday 27 May - 10:30 Family Communion, Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
Sunday School and Teen Discussion Group:
Sunday 20 May - 10.30 Sunday School, Anne Sharp & Rhian Foreau
Sunday 20 May - 10.30 Youth Discussion Group, Jenny Howard
June:
Sunday 03 June - 10:30 Holy Communion, Rev'ds Ann and Michael Wooderson
Sunday 10 June - 10:30 Family Communion, Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
Sunday 17 June - 10:30 Holy Communion, Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
Sunday 24 June - 10:30 Family Communion, Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
*Sunday School and Teen Discussion Group. For more information, feel free to contact Kit Seguin (05 57 64 82 41), Anne Sharp (05 57 88 46 24) or Jennifer Bearcroft (05 56 40 05 12).
Recent Services in Bordeaux
Easter Sunday service with three baptisms
We had a very thought provoking and uplifting Easter Service, led by the Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft, at La Chapelle de l'Assomption, Bordeaux. Although our services take place in the city of Bordeaux, many of our congregation live a distance away. So it was a joy to have a congregation of about 150 adults and children including the families who presented Arthur, Emily and Inès for baptism. (click on photos to enlage)
Our choir had worked hard rehearsing and accompanied by our new organ and with a strident trumpet from the gallery at the end of the service we certainly praised the Lord.
After the service the adults enjoyed refreshments kindly provided by the parents of the newly-baptised while all the many children were running around and squealing with delight at finding the numerous eggs hidden in the gardens of the Chapelle.
Lively Palm Sunday service!
Palm Sunday was marked by the congregation entering the church with their palm crosses whilst singing 'All Glory, Laud and Honour'.
In the meantime the Sunday School children were making palm branches of their own!
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - services throughout the week
In Bordeaux, we are very blessed in our relationships with a wide variety of Christian churches. Several of our congregation attended vespers at the Romanian Orthodox chapel on Wednesday, and an "Hour of Prayer for Unity" led by the ACAT, Association of Christians Against Torture at a Roman Catholic church on Thursday, followed by a Greek Orthodox celebration on Friday.
On Saturday, it was our turn and around 50 people, mainly French, including the resident community of Sisters of the Assomption, joined us in the chapel. It was exhilarating to know that our theme: "Changed by the Lord's victory over evil", was the focus of worldwide prayer on that day. In addition to the readings and prayer set for the 4th day, thanks to a friend of Lindsay's, we were able to share oplatki wafers in the Polish tradition. Each person received an oplatek and shared it with other people, offering a New Year's greeting, the Peace of Christ, or giving and receiving forgivenness for past hurts. Led by our wonderful musicians, Jack and Jenny on flutes and Rhian on the harp, we sang in English, French, and Latin – I'm afraid we didn't manage Polish – concluding with a rousing "A toi la gloire": "Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won"!
Many thanks to everyone who helped prepare the church and worked hard to serve the "Verre de l'unité" afterwards – always much appreciated by our French friends. And we still have a big, interdenominational service at the French Reformed Church next Wednesday to look forward to!
Events
Jazz for a Summer Afternoon...Saturday, 26th of May
Chris and Deirdre have kindly agreed to host another musical event to raise money for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Aquitaine. Don’t forget to bring your cheque books.
Anyone who attended the concert last year will know that this is something not to be missed! It will take place in their garden on from 12 noon to 4 pm, featuring music by the THE LITTLE BIG JAZZ BAND. You are invited to bring a picnic but wine and soft drinks will be on sale.
In addition to the music there will be a number of stalls for you to enjoy.
The Rankins are located mid-way between Carcans and Brach, near to the southern end of Lac Hourtin in the Medoc. If you have not been there before, we have detailed directions including Sat Nav/Tomtom co-ordinates which can be emailed to you on request.
This is also an ideal opportunity to maybe take a mini-break and explore further in the Medoc which offers a different but most enjoyable part of the Gironde with a variety of new places to explore and visit. Rumour has it there is good wine to be found as well!
The photo shows a 'classical' piece included in last year's fund-raiser.
For more information please contact Pamela Prior : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it tel 05 56 59 67 34 or Jennifer Bearcroft : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it tel: 05 56 40 05 12.
It is not mandatory but it would be most helpful to the organisers if you would please confirm your attendance with either Pamela or Jennifer before the 19th May.
Saturday, May 12th: Christians Together for a Fraternal Europe (Ensemble pour l'Europe)
You are invited to join the Christian Church Communities and Associations in this BIG NOT-TO-BE-MISSED ECUMENICAL EVENT on Saturday afternoon, May 12th, in Bordeaux.
2 p.m. Rendez-vous at the Place des Quinconces - Flash Mob...Immediate departure of "The March for Jesus" throughout the city (in communion with our evangelical church friends), with various theatrical sketches and activities at different stopping points.
5 p.m. Live satellite transmission of the Together for Europe gathering in Brussels (speakers A. Riccardi, H. van Rompuy, T. Römer amongst others, various praise and dance shots) in the Cathédrale Saint André, Place Pey Berland.
6 p.m. Praise Concert (including more than 80 choristers), Place Pey Berland.
Download a flyer in English here.
Download a flyer in French here.
Click here for more details about the event.
Recent Events in Bordeaux
Shrove Tuesday at the Presbytery
Several members of our congregation, young and young at heart, gathered together at the Presbytery on Shrove Tuesday to make, toss, and eat pancakes.
Amazingly none ended up on the floor (or the ceiling!) and everyone enjoyed the chance to get together.
Charities
Our Local Charities Our two local charities for 2011 are the Foyer Fraternel Gouffrand and Emmaüs, both charitable associations to help those in need. Please look under "Charities" for more information on these charities as well as the Chaplaincy's charity association "Chap-Aid" through which we are able to channel our charitable donations.
Foyer Fraternel – Centre Social
23, rue Gouffrand, 33300 BORDEAUX
Tel: 05 57 87 13 92, e-mail:
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Head : Pasteur Pascal Vernier
Helpful items to donate to our local charity, the Foyer Fraternel Gouffrand
The Bordeaux Church is sponsoring the Foyer Fraternel Gouffrand in downtown Bordeaux as their local charity in 2011. Please bring any small personal-care items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, comb, toothbrush, packets of tissues, etc.), gloves or warm hats to church on Sundays for distribution to the homeless and those in need.
"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11
Recycle used stamps for ICS and be part of an "every member world ministry"!
With electronic communication meaning that fewer stamps are used, and as the number of collectors is increasing, the value of stamps is on the rise. You can make a difference by saving all used stamps (except the British ones bearing only a large Queen's head and the value indicator, e.g. '1st') and bringing them to church on Sunday. Likewise Lindsay Megraud has convenient addressed envelopes which she can provide upon request and you can post them directly when they're full.
The Intercontinental Church Society which is the Chaplaincy's mission sponsor sells these stamps to collectors. That money is then used to help fund ministry to tourists (this is how the church in Ste Nathalène began), start new congregations, and maintain previously existing churches. In 2009 the scheme raised some £2,000 for ICS' works.
Hospital Visiting
We offer support at times of difficulty. We offer support at times of difficulty which is available in several ways. Over the years we have developed a network of prayer and pastoral support for those in particular need.
Holy Communion for those who are sick can be arranged. The Assistant Chaplain in Bordeaux makes frequent visits to the hospitals in the greater Bordeaux area and is also available to visit those who wish to simply speak with a priest.
The Assistant Chaplain may be contacted on: 05 56 40 05 12 (International: +33 5 56 40 05 12)
A hospital visiting team is also in place to help English speakers who find themselves in a Bordeaux hospital but are distant from or inaccessible to their nearest and dearest. The team has bi-lingual visitors and a visitor may provide much needed re-assurance to non-french speaking patients particularly during what can initially be a very difficult time for the patient.
To request a volunteer please contact the British Consulate in Bordeaux and they will put you in touch with the Bordeaux Hospital Visit Co-ordinator who will provide you with a form for completion. The form requests information that is necessary to enable an appropriate visitor to be allocated based on the patients age, sex, nature of illness, religion etc..
The British Consulate in Bordeaux may be contacted on 05 57 22 21 10 (International: +33 5 57 22 21 10)
The Assistant Chaplain may be contacted on: 05 56 40 05 12 (International: +33 5 56 40 05 12)
Contact us
Bordeaux Contact Information
Facebook ..You can also chat and keep up with what's happening in our Bordeaux Church by visiting our facebook page. Please 'click' on the facebook logo.
Assistant Chaplain of Aquitaine (Bordeaux) The Rev'd Bramwell Bearcroft
Tel. 05 56 40 05 12, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Wardens
Pamela Prior on 05 56 59 67 34 or
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Lindsay Mégraud on 05 56 96 44 17 or
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Christine Rychlewski on 05 56 48 18 77 or
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Bordeaux church officers for 2011 - 2012
Your current officers (short list) are as follows:
Wardens: Pamela Prior, Christine Rychlewski, Lindsay Mégraud
Treasurer: Paul Dixon, Assistant: Freda Perris
Secretary: Rhian Foreau
Chaplaincy Council representatives: Ian Couper, Pamela Prior
Pastoral Care: Freda Perris
Hospital visiting: Jill Goodenough
Electoral Roll Officer: Linda Chanut
Sunday School Coordinator & Child Protection Officer: Anne Sharp
Communications Officer: Ian Couper
Newsletter Editor: Lindsay Mégraud
Don't hesitate to contact any of them for help of any kind.