Children & Teens

At St Mary’s we warmly welcome children of all ages and their families to our church family. There is so much on offer, ranging from a Toddler Group to a Sunday Club, from All Together Services to special events (as well as much more!). We want to ensure that children and their families are a fundamental part of our worship and at the heart of our church. Our aim is to nurture, encourage exploration of, and provide enrichment of, Christian faith through our services and groups, which are specifically designed for these ages.

10am to 11.15am Tuesdays in term time

We run our baby and toddler group every Tuesday in term time from 10am. All welcome with no booking required. We start with a short service and bible story followed by play, craft, snacks and singing, finishing at around 11.15am.

Date Theme
Tuesday 9th January 2024 Epiphany
Tuesday 16th January 2024 Nathaniel
Tuesday 23rd January 2024 Jesus is the light of the world
Tuesday 30th January 2024 What is prayer?
Tuesday 6th February 2024 Jesus loves us
Tuesday 20th February 2024 Jesus is tested in the wilderness
Tuesday 27th February 2024 Jesus enters Jerusalem
Tuesday 5th March 2024 Jesus is like a mother hen
Tuesday 12th March 2024 Jesus cleans the temple
Tuesday 19th March 2024 Jesus washes his disciple’s feet

Children are always welcome at St Mary’s Barnes, whether to be in church for the service or to join us for Sunday Club. Our monthly All Together Service are child friendly and encourage children to participate (if they choose) in the reflection, or by reading the Gospel or Prayers. Key dates for this term are:

 

Sunday 7th January All Together Service (Epiphany)
Sunday 14th January Sunday Club
Sunday 21st January Sunday Club
Sunday 28th January All Together Service (Candlemas)
Sunday 4th February Sunday Club
Sunday 11th February Half Term – activity sheets will be provided
Sunday 18th February Half Term – activity sheets will be provided
Sunday 25th February Sunday Club (40th re-hallowing celebration)
Sunday 3rd March Sunday Club
Sunday 10th March All Together Service (Mothering Sunday)
Sunday 17th March Sunday Club
Sunday 24th March Palm Sunday – Easter Garden making during service

Our Children & Families' Worker

Jackie Davis

I joined the team in February 2020 and it has been wonderful getting to know the whole church community, especially the children who bring such energy and inspired thinking about their faith.

Within my role, I am able to work both within the church as well as within the local area offering outreach where opportunity presents. I strive to ensure that we can support children on their journey of faith from the very early years, right through to adulthood.

If you would like to know more about our work with children and families, I would be delighted to hear from you. Please do email: [email protected] or alternatively contact me via the church office.

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Faith for Children & Teens

Baptisms

Baptisms normally take place once a month on Sunday at 11.45am, usually with two or more children. It is a full service with hymns, reading, address, prayers, as well as the baptism. To help prepare for a child’s baptism service, parents are invited to a a meeting beforehand. Read more about baptism at St Mary’s.

First Communion

Each year between 12 and 18 children aged seven to eleven years take their First Communion, the majority being 7 to 9 years old.
To prepare children for admission to First Communion we run about six weekly sessions after school. Read more about First Communion at St Mary’s.

Confirmation

The Confirmation service gives the opportunity for adults and young people to become full members of the Church of England.
It is called Confirmation because in the service each candidate “confirms” for themselves the promises that were made on their behalf at their baptism.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding

St. Mary’s Barnes is committed to ensuring everyone can worship, learn and work in a safe environment.

View details, see who the Parish Safeguarding Officers are and link to the Diocese and other safeguarding sites.

Church Trail

Find out more about our historic church with the Children’s Trail, devised in association with NADFAS . Available to download here or pick up a printed copy at the back of the church, near the main door.

St Mary's Barnes Scout Group

cropped-Sd00588048_00001_1St. Mary Barnes Scout Group was founded in the early 1920s. The Group amalgamated with the Barn Elms Scout Group (which had already amalgamated some years earlier with the Holy Trinity Sea Scout Group) in the 1980s. It is now the only Scout Group in Barnes. The Group was once based at the Church Hall in Kitson Road, but following the amalgamation, they moved to their present HQ in Queen Elizabeth Walk.

St. Mary Barnes Scout Group is sponsored by St. Mary Barnes Church. It is not a “closed” Group and members of the Group are not expected to be members of the Church. However, all members of the Group are expected to attend Church Parades, unless they have a simultaneous commitment at another church, or, belong to a religious organisation, membership of which is incompatible with attendance at an Anglican Church.