The Church of England’s website poses a series of questions for those involved in children’s work in the Church. It asks whether each parish takes children seriously, whether we nurture their spirituality (or just feed them Bible stories), and whether we see children as equal partners with adults on the journey of faith.

At St Peter’s and All Saints we would like to think our work in the Sunday Schools addresses all these points.

Each Church has a regular Sunday School which is only not held when it is time for the monthly ABC worship – a wonderful service in St Peter’s led by Father John for Adults, Babies and Children. It is focused around the younger members of the congregation and involves them fully,
without excluding those of us who are a bit older!

During regular services, Sunday School volunteers provide activities which are aimed at bringing the Christian message home to the young.

Our goal is not to lecture, but to nurture their understanding of the
Bible and God’s work, using activities that are exciting and interesting.

This seems regularly to involve bubbles. It’s amazing how many ways the rising of pretty spheres can be interpreted to help explain the Christian message.

On Ascension Day it meant standing in the grounds of St Peter’s and thinking about Jesus ascending to heaven. On another Sunday, we noticed how fragile bubbles are and how easily destroyed (lots of running around and popping them to reinforce this message) and related this to the week’s theme of nurturing and protecting the vulnerable.

And we’re not adverse to a little chocolate to help emphasise the Good News. On Easter Day the Easter Bunny visits and leaves hundreds of eggs in the Church garden. There were so many children eagerly hunting this year, that the “Easter Bunny” found herself rapidly re-scattering handfuls of “found” eggs from the basket, in order to prolong the fun.

The eggs were then shared – with enough left over for everyone in the congregation to be offered one.

There’s more eating to celebrate our Saints’ days, too, with the children decorating fairy cakes with vibrant coloured icing and masses of silver balls and sprinkles. Most of the adults are gracious enough to accept one and crunch their way through it.

The older children follow the same themes, but in a more age-appropriate style. Less cutting and colouring; more chatting and considering.  

In order to involve everyone in the children’s work, the Sunday School children often stand in front of the congregation after Communion and explain the morning’s project. The older children talk and the younger ones proudly hold their creations aloft for all to see.  

Some years ago our Parish didn’t have a Sunday School. Then one couple produced three children in quick succession and decided something Ought To Be Done. They were instrumental in setting up our Sunday Schools, which have continued to flourish ever since.

This couple - and two other key families – recently left London.
They are missed, but their good work in our Parish continues. In their place come new recruits; families with small children and enthusiastic parents, enabling us to fulfil another of the Church of England Synod’s requests – that our Parish “provides an arena for children to use their gifts, and develop their ministries”. We hope we do.