Children, Youth and Families

Family Services

Family Church is our family service for all ages at 3:30pm every Sunday during term time, at St Augustine's church, East Hendred.

Rather than a traditional service where children and parents stay at their seats the entire time, these services involve everyone in activities, crafts, games (and snacks!) around the church and outside.

This term our theme is: exploring the church and its surroundings!

We also have services especially for families on days like Christmas Eve and Palm Sunday. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive information about these.

First Holy Communion

As part of Family Church after Easter, we are planning to offer preparation for those who would like to receive Holy Communion for the first time.

The appropriate age at which children are admitted is a matter for discernment between individual families and the clergy. Children aged around eight years old are particularly encouraged to take part. Children who are not sure whether they are ready are also welcome to take part to find out more.

Older children, parents, and carers who haven’t been confirmed are also welcome to join, as a step towards confirmation.

These sessions will take place as part of family church at 3:30pm on the following Sundays: 4-18 May and 8-29 June.

The service where those who have been prepared will receive their first communion will be at 11am on Sunday 6 July.

If you're interested or would like to know more please get in touch with our rector, Nikolaj.

Youth

While people of all ages are invited to take part in our worship when we come together on Sundays, we recognise that young people like to hang out with their peers as well. While we don't currently have our own youth group, we are glad to recommend the church youth groups in our neighbouring larger villages of Harwell and Grove.

If that's not quite right for you, we have other recommendations to offer - please get in touch with the Rector.

For those interested in confirmation, in which an individual takes on for themselves the promises made for them at their baptism, please get in touch with our Rector.

School Partnership

We have strong links with The Hendreds School, our local Church of England school in East Hendred, with weekly assemblies in school and termly visits to the church.

We also have members of our church community who volunteer in the school as part of Open the Book, going in to work with the students on exploring bible stories through drama.

We want to be a family-friendly church. We recognise that bringing your children to church is no mean feat. We welcome the sight and sound of children and young people among us. We ask every member of the congregation to take responsibility for creating a welcoming atmosphere. We recognise that how we do things may need to change in order to engage children, young people, and families in a way that reflects their contributions and needs.

Endorsed by the churches of the benefice, 2024

‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’ (Mark 10:14)

Our aims for the future...

Safeguarding

Our parishes are committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSOs):

Angela Findley: East and West Hendred (safeguardingwhht@westhendred.net)

Rose Baring: Ardington and Lockinge (peterbaring@btinternet.com)

Our Diocese’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor who advises our PSOs.

If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the PSO of the relevant parish (see above) or the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (Erica Hegg, 01865 208295, safeguardingreferrals@oxford.anglican.org).

If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority’s children or adult social care services.