Children
This website uses required cookies to perform essential website functions and to provide the services. For example, cookies are used to improve performance, route traffic between web servers, detect the size of your screen, determine page load times, improve user experience, and for audience measurement. These cookies are necessary for our websites to work.
Children are an integral part of our congregation and community at St Mary Magdalene, and are welcome at all services. We are a breastfeeding friendly church, and our facilities include a well-equipped baby changing room with spare supplies in case you get caught short! We also have an area in church with quiet toys and books for very small children, and an easy chair with arms which is more comfortable for breastfeeding.
Activities during the service During the Sunday service at 10am, there are always activities for children in the lady chapel (one of the side chapels, clearly visible from the main seating area).
We have found that children are much happier being part of the main service, and can choose how much they’d like to worship with the main gathering, and how much they’d like to engage with the activities just for them. The space they use has a great view of the altar, so they can see everything that’s going on.
Activities aren’t just colouring! We try to offer different ways of engaging with the same Bible readings that we are exploring as grown-ups that week. Recently the children have built the story of the Good Samaritan from lego, made bread thinking about Sarah and Abraham cooking for strangers, and created confetti for a couple celebration 40 years of marriage with a blessing during the service.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Youth and Young People There are a number of young people from church who meet together roughly once a month with young people from other local churches. This is run by one of our church members who is also a member of the Focolare Movement. If you are interested in joining this group, please get in touch.
Child Safeguarding Policy We care deeply about the safety of our children and vulnerable adults – our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Jeni Neville. Read more about our safeguarding policy.