Have you brought your family to church?
Going to church with a family shouldn’t be an ordeal!
If you come along with children we’d like to say a very big welcome and congratulate you on managing to get here! We welcome every member of your family and hope that coming here makes you all feel part of the bigger family of God’s church. Afterall, children are just as important as all the other members of our church. We hope we always show this!
We have a children’s area in the north aisle (to your left once you walk through the door), with books and toys for smaller children. Colouring and books are provided for older children who are welcome to take them to the pews if that is where they would like to sit! You are of course welcome to bring your own toys (and don’t worry if your child enjoys playing with them and makes a bit of noise).
Please don’t feel you should take your baby out of church if she or he gets hungry. Nobody will mind (or notice) if you feed them during the service.
Over the course of the month, there is always something children can participate in every week:
Family service: On the first Sunday of every month we have a Family Service at 10 am. It lasts about 40 minutes, and aims to involve children of all ages, as well as adults.
Junior Church: Once a month, usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month, Junior Church meets in age-appropriate groups in St Andrew’s Hall during the 10 am Sung Eucharist service. Groups are suitable for children aged 0-16. New faces are always welcome!
All-Age communion: On the third Sunday of every month at 10 am we have a Communion service with a sermon that involves the children.
Café Church: Once a month, usually on the 4th Sunday of the month, we have Café Church for families and children – a short service of songs, a story, prayers, and time to wonder, create and chat together around tables. This is held in St Andrew’s Hall at 10am (whilst Parish Communion happens in the main church building).
Children are welcome at any of our 10am services. If they would prefer to come along to Sung Eucharist or Parish Communion rather than going to Junior Church or Café Church, they are very welcome!
While the pattern of our services usually follows the order just described, things are sometimes moved around due to special days in the church calendar. To keep up-to-date on services, check out the St Andrew’s News page.
In addition to Sunday services, we also have a group for babies, pre-school children, parents, and carers which meets once a week on a Thursday at 10-11:30 am. For more information, visit the Church Mice page.
If you want to talk to someone about any of children and family offerings, our Junior Church Co-ordinator is Julia Eisen. You can chat with her at coffee after church to find out more about what we do at St Andrew’s for children and families.
All our children’s workers have been cleared to work with children in line with the Diocese of Ely’s recommended practice. See our Safeguarding information here.