Child Friendly Church

Is yours a 'child friendly church'?

If so, you could qualify for an award for display to the community.

The scheme was created by the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool as a way of recognising excellence and encouraging further development.

Now, with permission from the diocese, it has been adopted by the Federation.

Two Federation areas may give money for projects under the scheme, and Area Children's Work co-ordinators have been trained as coaches.

Child Friendly Church

A child friendly church should:

  1. have a current 'Keep Safe' poster;
  2. provide child-friendly worship;
  3. make church spaces welcoming to children; and
  4. dedicate time and resources to help children grow spiritually.

Youth and children's Director Stephen Hawood said the focus would be on the excitement which children's spirituality could bring to the whole of church life, 'and how we can express God's love for all the children in our communities in practical ways.'

Stephen told the Council meeting in March that his work on 'safeguarding' procedures for children in churches had taken a great deal of time, but now it was proposed to present an enormous challenge to churches to nurture children's place in the household of God.