Children & Teens
Christian Aid Week -11th to 17th May 2025
Christian Aid week starts this coming weekend; with it’s annual focus being on supporting communities in Guatemala who face extreme poverty because of the impact of climate change. To support fundraising for this important cause, we would love for our families to join in any of all of the following:
Saturday 10th May – Christian Aid Coffee Shop
I have volunteered to run the charity coffee shop this Saturday on behalf of children and families and need your help. Cake baking and servers on Saturday (between 9.45 and 11am – or any part of that) would be hugely appreciated. Please do get in touch asap if you can help in any way.
Saturday 10th May – Sunday 18th May – £20 any way
During the official Christian Aid week, we are challenging our St Mary’s families to make £20 (or more if they want!) for Christian Aid. You can do this any way that you can think of : sponsorships (hoola hooping, reading etc), earning (car washing, gardening etc) selling (pre loved items, lemonade etc, donating (if short of time). There will be recognition and certificates in church on Sunday 18th May for most original fundraising and other accolades 🙂. Do let me know if you are doing something so I can share with the congregation.
Sunday 11th May – 11.15am Teddy Bear Abseil
Bring your thrill seeking teddy to abseil down the tower at St Mary’s. They get their own certificate and sticker for their bravery!
£2 per teddy and open to teddies young and old.🐻🐻 Do get in touch if you are interested in taking part in any of these: [email protected]
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 22nd April 2025 | Abraham and Sarah |
| Tuesday 29th April 2025 | King Solomon |
| Tuesday 6th May 2025 | The Story of Job |
| Tuesday 13th May 2025 | Ballam |
| Tuesday 20th May 2025 | David & Goliath |
| Tuesday 27th May 2025 | HALF TERM |
| Tuesday 3rd June 2025 | The Parable of the Lost Sheep |
| Tuesday 10th June 2025 | The Parable of the Lost Coin |
| Tuesday 17th June 2025 | The Parable of the Two Debtors |
| Tuesday 24th June 2025 | The Prodigal Son |
| Tuesday 1st July 2025 | The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant |
| Tuesday 8th July 2025 | The Parable of the Faithful Servant |
| Tuesday 15th July 2025 | The Parable of the Persistent Neighbour |
| Tuesday 22nd July 2025 | The Wise Man and the Foolish Man |
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 Services 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 27th April | All Together Service for St George’s Day |
| Sunday 4th May | Bank Holiday – Activity Sheets and Colouring In |
| Sunday 11th May | All Together Service |
| Sunday 18th May | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 25th May/1st June | Half Term – Activity Sheets and Colouring In |
| Sunday 8th June | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 15th June | All Together Service for Trinity Sunday/Father’s Day |
| Sunday 22nd June | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 29th June | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 6th July | All Together Service |
| Sunday 13th July | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 20th July | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 27th July | Sunday Club |
| 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st August | Activity Sheets and Colouring In |
| Sunday 7th September | All Together 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.
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. Read more about Confirmation at St Mary’s
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
St. 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.