ST MARY ABBOTS PARISH CHURCH
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Children on Sundays


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In recent years the greatest area of growth in our church has been among families with young children:  on an average Sunday our main service includes more than sixty children – sometimes the number approaches one hundred!  

We have become widely known as a child- and family-friendly church and are delighted to offer a wide range of provision for children from babies to teenagers, and families with children in worship, education and activities.  
Our main children’s provision is centred on the Sunday 9.30am Holy Eucharist.   On most Sundays the children – together with the parents of the youngest children – join in the Introit Procession and gather at the front of the church before being sent out to their age appropriate groups as follows:

Pre School Groups (Children are accompanied by a parent)  
0-2yrs    CATERPILLARS and  
3-4yrs   CHRYSALIS ​

After this, the groups are structured in terms of school years and, once they are settled, the children attend the sessions without their parents;

Reception & School Year 1    BUTTERFLIES

School Years 2-6    JUNIORS & SENIORS    

​In these groups the children share activities, worship, prayers and Christian teaching appropriate to their age and understanding and respond in livelier, noisier and messier - but more creative  - ways than would be possible in Church!   Each child is registered as a member of Children On Sundays (the form can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page) and the parents are kept informed about any other activities, events, and so on.  
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St Mary Abbots aims to give children an experience of the Church as a happy place to be where they can experience, as a reality, the gospel of love shown to us in the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. The children return to church at the time of the communion, and each child receives a personal blessing and is given a candle to light as a reminder of the baptismal injunction to shine as a light in the world.  

We also want to encourage you as you nurture your children in the faith.  Here is a link to the Church of England's Early Years Ministry page where you will find useful suggestions to use with your children.  
To register your child from the sunday Groups please print off, sign and return the form on Sunday at the 9.30 service 
sunday_group_registration_form.pdf
File Size: 152 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Volunteering to help with Children on Sundays: 
If you think that you might like to join the team of volunteers that run the Children on Sundays sessions then click here to find out more:  COS Volunteer Information
The PCC of St Mary Abbots is a Registered Charity : Number 1132235

At St Mary Abbots we are committed to the safeguarding and care of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  
 ​Safeguarding ​
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