We have nearly 100 children and youth in our church family and have a range of activities on Sundays and midweek that are age-appropriate. Sunday morning groups run at both St Bart’s Riverside and St Bart’s Oldfield congregations. Our club gatherings are based at the church – more details below. All groups and gatherings are led by fully Safely Recruited (including DBS) people, according to the Church of England Safeguarding policy.
At the St Bart’s Oldfield congregation, the children are part of the main service for the first 10-15 minutes, where they are encouraged to sing, to listen and to pray as they are able. There is sometimes a children’s song, which everyone enjoys! The children then go to a different part of the building to their groups.
Creche is for the very youngest children. It is led by safely recruited leaders, and you are welcome to settle your child and return to the service or stay with your child. There is often a simple Bible story and perhaps a song or an age-appropriate craft. A safe handover of the children to the parents/carers is done right at the end of the service. The leaders will bring the children up the stairs to meet their grown ups in the church itself.
Paddlers is for pre-schoolers to school year 2, although the age at which they come up to this group from Creche depends on each individual child. Paddlers is led by safely recruited leaders who teach the children from the Bible, lead a craft and some games. Paddlers is in a room off the hall. Children are handed over to their parents right at the end of the service. Leaders will bring them into the church before the adults move to allow a safe handover.
Refresh is for children in school years 3 up to year 9. It’s a big age range, but the children get on well together and both the older and the younger children benefit from the presence of the other. In this group we play games and study the Bible for ourselves. As with the other groups, it is led by safely recruited leaders who bring them back to the supervision of their parents right at the end of the service.
The congregation at Riverside meet all together for the first 10-15 minutes, before the children go to their groups. The children and youth are encouraged to join in the singing and praying, and there is usually a children’s song which everyone can enjoy!
For babies and toddlers, the little ones in this group do lots of playing and hear a story from the Bible.
For younger children who are beginning to engage with God’s word, this group meets to learn about God’s promises to the world in Jesus, with videos, games and craft.
For older children in years 3-9, this group meets together for a game and to learn from the Bible together.
We run Friday kids’ groups during term-time.
Meet in the church building (KER) for an assortment of games, snacks, competitions and activities, and learn more about Jesus from the Bible.
Explore: School years R – 2 (Fri 4:30pm – 6pm)
Excite: School years 3 – 6 (Fri 6pm – 7:30pm)
Unite: School years 7-9 (Fri 7:30pm – 9:15pm)
Our older youth meet on Sunday evenings.
Ignite: School years 10-13 (Sun 7:45pm – 9pm).
We meet together for The Evening Service at 6.30pm and then enjoy hot dogs & refreshments. Youth group then follows from around 7:45pm.
A time together of fun and encouragement – we discuss themes raised in the service and see what the Bible says about different issues relevant to our own lives.
Contact: Ben Makroum (Youth and Children’s Ministry Lead) – ben@stbartsbath.org
Please note all those who work with our children and young people have been safely recruited and DBS cleared.
