We welcome all children and their parents or carers to our church on a Sunday morning. We only have one service and so we have tried to make the service as appropriate as we can for all who want to come and be a part of the church family and to worship with us. This is not easy to achieve and so we would ask you to observe the following, so that everyone who comes may gain the most they can from our service.
1. A special place is provided at the front of the church where parents may sit with their children and where children may see and hear and gradually learn the way we try to worship God. This space is not a crèche where children can be left unsupervised, but a space where the younger children (up to about 6 or 7) and their parents can be in church together.
2. There are some toys and also pens and paper but children will need to be looked after and helped to learn how to behave and how to take part in the worship. If any child is upset or, at any moment, is behaving in such a way as to disturb others, please take them to the Parish Room until they are ready to come back into the church.
3. On most Sundays there is a special time and activity for children during the sermon, creed and intercessions when they go to the Parish Room and will be introduced by church members (often parents, but not always) to the activity for that Sunday.
4. If your child is young, perhaps three or under. Please go with them to help those who are organising this activity. If your child can be left to get on with the activity without your help and will work unaided, then please feeling free to stay in church for that part of the service. But please do not assume that all well. Be ready to help those leading the activity if it becomes clear they need help especially if it becomes clear that your own child is not being co-operative.
5. If you are willing to be a helper with Junior Church, please let the clergy know. Your offer will be greatly welcomed.
6. On some Sundays special sermons are organised for children by the clergy and so the children remain in church for the whole service. . Again the clergy are always grateful for your support and encouragement to the children. If the second part of the service proves too long, feel free to take your children into the Parish Room if this is necessary, but look after them and encourage them to come back into church, especially for their blessing at the altar rail.
7. If you would prefer to sit in the ordinary pews with your child please feel free to do so. Some parents do this and bring them to the Parish Room for the activity. Some children have progressed to doing this after first using the children's corner, and this has worked well.
8. Bringing children into church can be daunting and it is easy to give up. We want to encourage children to come and they do learn what is appropriate and what is not, by regular attendance. Making it work is a co-operative venture so please talk to other parents, church members, the clergy and other children. Worship is something we should do together because we have a great deal to learn from each other.
Thank you for your co-operation and keep coming.