At St. Peter’s we celebrate the fact that children are members of our worshipping community. We are working hard to find ways of welcoming children and walking with them on their journey of faith.

The latest development is a Children’s area in the church building.

The need for a Children’s area was recognised at our Parish Away Day in February 2005. At the follow-up meeting in April, it was highlighted as something that could be addressed quickly and relatively cheaply. The PCC decided to apply for a faculty – official dispensation to change the fabric of the church building – which was granted in August.

The Children’s area is sited near the front of the building so that the children can see and be seen. We have turned pews so there is seating along the sides and back of the area. The floor and pew tops are carpeted so the area is bright and warm as well as absorbing sound.

The carpenter made a beautiful job of fitting the pews together. We welcomed out first families into the area on Remembrance Sunday.

It has been a challenge to find appropriate toys and activities to furnish the Children’s area. We want to encourage the families sitting there to notice and take part in the service. We have a small table and the older children are encouraged to use a miniature chalice and paten (sports trophies) to follow the action of the Eucharistic Prayer. We are also planning to buy communion cubes and to make a “cloth” showing the seasonal colours of the liturgical year. A hand will move round to show which Sunday we have reached.

So far, the children’s area has been warmly welcomed by families who have found it difficult to sit through services with babies and toddlers. Some members of the congregation have had reservations, and we are still on a steep learning curve about how to make the best use of the area. This includes using it beyond our Sunday mornings. For example, our Toddler Group is hoping to have short services there occasionally. We also expect it to be a great asset for weddings.

One unexpected bonus has been that families have used it as a quiet space during the week.

Activities for Children - Click here for activities which include puzzles and crosswords, cartoons.