Noisy children and quiet services – thoughts from our Children & Families Worker

Many parents worry about bringing their children into a church service due to the potential for them to be noisy, cause a fuss, not stay in one place or even have a tantrum – this can become a reason why parents don’t come to church. Please DO NOT let this be your reason! We understand that children are not mini adults, they are not designed to be quiet or still or understand that shouting out “whose that man on that cross up there, is he dead?” halfway through prayers may not be the right time to ask that question (yes it’s happened, yes it was my child). We also understand that as parents you are doing your absolute best! We have a Sunday School during term time and a children’s corner filled with resources for smaller ones and school holidays. We can also livestream the service into the hall if your child needs to take a break. The only thing we ask is the same thing we ask of all our congregation – be respectful of those around you, allowing them to worship and meet with God. If you’d like to chat before joining us on a Sunday please email our Children & Families Worker.

What we offer on a Sunday morning

Our Sunday School is held in the church hall during the 10.30am service and is unaccompanied by parents for all children aged 3+. Under 3’s are welcome to join us in the hall if they are accompanied by a parent, otherwise they are welcome to remain in the main church service with their parent.

We start in the main church service with the adult congregation and leave for our group after the welcome, notices and first couple of worship songs. We then re-join the congregation during the final song, except for once a month when we re-join earlier for Holy Communion.

We have lots of fun learning about the Bible, playing games, doing crafts and getting to know each other. We run term time only (see information about school holidays below).

All Sunday School volunteers are DBS checked, have undergone safer recruitment procedures and have completed safeguarding training in line with both our own safeguarding children and vulnerable adults policy and that of the local diocese. Sunday School is overseen by our Children and Families Worker.

In the main church we have a children’s area with a table, chairs and sofas. In this area we have some toys, books, colouring and puzzles. We also have fidgets and ear defenders available. You are welcome to sit wherever you would like with your children during the service and access the children’s area however you find easiest – whether this be sitting in the children’s area with your child or getting resources from there and taking them back to your seat. The only things we ask is that children are supervised at all times and you help to tidy up any resources used at the end of the service.

During the school holidays we take a break from our usual Sunday School routine (and to give our volunteers a break), this means that parents are responsible for their own children during this time. The children’s corner in church has a lot of resources to keep your children busy during the service and you may use the hall if your child needs to leave for any reason. Please see our What’s On page if you need to double check what is available for a particular Sunday morning.