Over the past year, St. Augustine’s Parish Church in Slade Green has planted the seeds of faith through Toddler Church, Junior Church, Messy Church, and Sensory Church.
These initiatives have continued to grow and transform the life of the church.
What began with a few small steps welcoming toddlers and reaching into schools with Bible Club has now increased church attendance.
Children who started out in Toddler Church are naturally moving into Messy Church, where families are increasingly finding a place to belong.
Even more encouraging is that this journey is drawing them deeper into the life of the church, with more families crossing over to attend Sunday services as well.
As Rev. Jim Bennett puts it: “This is a parish church for all ages—from the cradle to the grave.”
And right now, it’s the youngest who are leading the way. The church is, quite literally, getting younger.
In September 2024, St. Augustine’s launched its Sensory Church, a specially designed service to support children with neurodiverse needs and their families.
Held once a month, Sensory Church offers a relaxed, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment which is perfect for families who may have found traditional services or even Messy Church overwhelming.
“The idea came from recognising how hard it can be for parents to bring neurodiverse children into busy, unpredictable spaces,” says Rev. Jim. “God asked us to offer this solution.”
The result is a space where families can come together, find understanding, and meet others on a similar journey. It’s church but in a gentler, quieter way.
All of this is part of a wider vision at St. Augustine’s: to become a church where every child and family can thrive.
Supported by the Church of England’s Strategic Development Fund, the church appointed Jacki Clement as its dedicated Children’s and Families Pioneer, working three days a week to build worshipping communities for children and engage with families both inside and outside the church walls.
“We go into schools, we run Bible Club, and we create spaces where kids and families feel valued and included,” says Jacki. “This is about giving them a place where they can discover God and grow in faith.”
And the results are tangible. Interest from local families continues to increase. More parents are asking questions about faith.
Families are showing up on Sundays ready to worship together.
“If we don’t tell people about God and Jesus, who else will tell them?” asks Rev. Jim. “That is our role. We have our doors open for anyone.”
And open they are. Whether through vibrant children’s ministries, thoughtful inclusion efforts like Sensory Church, or vital outreach through community programmes, St. Augustine’s is living out its call to be a church for every age and every person.
As Rev. Jim affirms: “God has His hand in all that we are doing.”