Children and Young People

​Young Church at St Andrew’s is a vibrant and growing community of parents and children who meet each Sunday during the Parish Eucharist at 10am. Our Young Church programme is going from strength to strength and is a source of particular pride and excitement for our current church community.

 

We have a regular attendance of 8–12 children with their parents and carers (depending on age). Children of all ages are welcome, and activities are planned so there is something for all, with the older children helping the younger ones or following a lectionary based course. We are working towards the preparation of 7+ year olds for first Communion.

 

Our Young Church community (parents and carers) take part in the opening procession at each Eucharist. This ensures that the children feel welcomed at the heart of our sacramental worship. Following Christ, who said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” we seek to make the altar and sanctuary approachable, open-armed places in our church, to which children feel called and in which they feel loved. To symbolise this embrace of children, the celebrant hands each child a candle (battery powered!) from the altar during our processional hymn. Especially for those children who do not yet receive Holy Communion, this act offers something tangible to take away from the heart of the church: a light to represent Christ’s light.

 

Children move from the altar to gather in the Church Room, where we open in prayer and a child-focused hymn or song. A small but dedicated group of adult volunteers prepare a lectionary-based craft, discussion, and activity, which draws on the Gospel.

 

The children have their own Young Church Garden, and have been learning gardening skills and about caring for creation, as well as letting off steam! An enthusiastic team of adults ensure that there is a fun and varied programme. The children rejoin the congregation for Communion and are welcomed to the front of Church after the final hymn to share their crafts and learnings with the congregation.

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You might also be interested to find out more about Little Fishes, our toddler group which meets on Thursday mornings.

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