Youth and Children’s Work

Our vision for the Church is that families with children will:

• find a warm welcome
• experience the love of God
• develop a solid foundation of faith
• feel secure as members of the wider church family
• be fully participative in the life of the church

To this end, we run a wide range of activities and groups to cater for all ages, both during regular Church services and outside these times.

Sunday School is constantly reviewing the best way to provide the appropriate environment for children of Primary school age during the 10 o’clock service. They generally have their own special teaching and activities and join mums and dads at the beginning and end of each service.

There is a crèche area inside the church with toys and puzzles where Mum, Dad or grandparents can keep a watchful eye over pre-school children and still participate in the service. Again, provision for this age group is currently under review in order to find the most suitable facilities for families with young children.

Scramblers meet on Monday afternoon at the Church Hall in the village from 1.45 – 3.00 pm. Mums, Dads or grandparents come along with pre-school children.  Children have a story, sing songs and do some craft work. Parents participate with their children and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

Friday Club is a special club for children of Primary school age and meets after school on Friday until 4.30 pm at the Church Hall. Children can join leaders at the school and walk down to the Hall as a happy band together.  Once settled and welcomed, the children have refreshments.  Then there is a full programme of activities, singing and teaching packed into this hour.  Children break into smaller age groups for part of their time together.

Signposts is the group that is run for young people aged 10-14 and meets on Sunday evenings (not the last Sunday of the month) from 7.15 – 8.45 pm in the Church Hall.

A varied programme of themed activities and teaching is offered, with the occasional outside activity (eg tenpin bowling) in the winter months and a lot of outdoor events in the summer.

Members are given the opportunity to prepare for Confirmation within this group, although there is no obligation to do so.

Workshops, Family and Youth Services

The leaders of the different groups aim to meet together several times each year to review the work with young people. There are usually three or four occasions each year when the groups work together to run special events (eg Easter workshop, Christmas play) and whenever possible, children from the groups are encouraged to participate fully in Family and/or Youth Services held each month – in drama, reading prayers and the Bible, welcoming people in Church, taking up bread and wine for Communion.

Child Protection Policy

St James’s has adopted a Child Protection Policy in keeping with Diocesan guidelines.

 If you want to know more, please contact the church office on 01934 844650