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 31st October 2023 | Allhallowtide |
| Tuesday 7th November 2023 | Remembrance |
| Tuesday 14th November 2023 | The Parable of the Ten Brides |
| Tuesday 21st November 2023 | The Fruits of the Spirit |
| Tuesday 28th November 2023 | Christ the King/Stir Up Sunday |
| Tuesday 5th December 2023 | Advent |
| Tuesday 12th December 2023 | The Nativity |
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 10th September | All Together Service (Backpack Blessing) |
| Sunday 17th September | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 24th September | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 1st October | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 8th October Harvest Festival | All Together Harvest Service followed straight after by delicious community Harvest Brunch in Kitson Hall |
| Sunday 15th October | Sunday Club |
| Sunday 22nd October | Half Term – activity sheets will be provided |
| Sunday 29th October | Half Term – activity sheets will be provided |
| Sunday 5th November | All Together All Saints Service |
| Sunday 12th November | Remembrance Day Service – no Sunday Club |
| Sunday 19th November | |
| Sunday 26th November | |
| Sunday 3rd December | All Together Advent Service |
| Sunday 10th December |
10am Sunday Club 4pm Christingle Service |
| Sunday 17th December | Sunday Club |
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.
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.