Junior Church continues to meet once a week, on a Sunday, during the Family Service at 10.00.
Junior Church takes place in the octagon and last approximately 40 minutes; with the children rejoining the congregation in time to share the 'peace'.

There is no Junior Church during ‘All Age Services’.

Junior Church is lead by Karen and Melvyn French, Stephen Baker and Claire Stanley.

The number of children attending Junior Church has been very variable this year. Some weeks as few as 3 children have joined us, other weeks as many as 10 have attended.

Most sessions have continued to be supported by material found in Splash! (5 – 8 yr olds) and Xstream (8 – 11 yr olds). Theses are magazines published by Scripture Union which focus on the Bible.

We have also created a ‘Family Tree’ for St Mary’s which is on display in the octagon. The children were all happy to have their pictures included.

Activities in Junior Church are designed to give confidence to the children to explore their own faith through discussion, games, prayer and other activities.

We aim to make Junior Church interesting, challenging and fun. Every week the children will take something away with them. It may be something that they have made, or simply a prayer or a thought for the week. This year children have taken various crafts home, including bookmarks, spirals and prayer prompts all made during Junior Church.

Occasionally Junior Church will join with the older children (Lazers Group). In the last year this has been to rehearse and perform the Christmas ‘Nativity’ which focussed on the different ways Christians celebrate Christmas around the world.

Another enjoyable time was the summer picnic when children of all ages, including those who attended the crèche (0 – pre-school), joined together for food, fun and games.

Karen French