The
aims of the Junior Church are to offer children of all ages a positive, exciting
and supportive introduction to Christian values and teachings and to provide
a firm foundation for children from which they will prosper and grow in later
life. This is approached in a structured way within a professional framework
of teacher-led development. Children and their families are given the opportunity
to participate together in worship through our monthly Family Service. This
service takes place on the first Sunday of each month. The older children are given encouragement and support to receive communion, first for communion before Confirmation, followed by Confirmation itself as a gradual, serious and considered Christian commitment.
Children congregate for Junior Church in the front pews of the church where teachers will be waiting to greet them. Children are asked to arrive by 9:50am in readiness for the start of the morning service where they will be welcomed by the Vicar and join in the singing of the processional hymn with their wider church family.
Following the hymn Junior Church withdraws to the Parish Centre for a brief introductory service based on the day's Gospel prior to dispersal to their age related teaching groups where they follow a Scripture Union syllabus entitled ‘Light'. By following this syllabus the children will gain a good grasp of the key events and teachings of the Bible whilst also developing a personal relationship with Christ.
The children then rejoin their church family for communion/blessing and remain in the front pews for the remainder of the service. Parents are then required to collect their children personally from the children's group leader.
There are eight groups within Junior Church , named after Biblical places which plot the life of Jesus.
