St Botolph's Church
Report for Annual General Meeting 2006
Our aim is to provide children and young people with engaging, age-appropriate spiritual education themed with the Common Worship Lectionary used in church.
We continue to fulfil our aim for families with school aged children attending church and always welcome visitors whether they are children from the village or from further afield.
There are two teaching groups: a primary group and a secondary/young peoples group. Last year we reported that the group of children was at the minimum size to be viable. Our principal challenge continues to be our ageing population (who are now becoming teenagers!) and we hope that one of the Church's mission aims will be to encourage younger children to come along.
We value the commitment of existing church families and have been very happy to welcome new families when they can make it. Meanwhile, we continue to provide input that is spiritual, creative, reflective, active and fun: the standard of provision is excellent and something the whole church can feel proud of.
We are most grateful for the self-giving commitment of the adults who prepare and lead Sunday Club, acknowledging their invaluable role in nurturing 'the next generation' in their Christian understanding. We have been grateful to the contribution of Eric and Ann West who are no longer Sunday Club leaders.
We look forward to a new chapter in Sunday Club activities in relocating to the Barn. Being closer to Church is a benefit and additional facilities, including two rooms and IT equipment, will allow us to explore new frontiers! We also look forward to exploring possibilities for young peoples' activities within the widened Benefice.
The warm and responsive reception the children receive from the congregation at the morning service is really important: thank you all for being interested in what we do and allowing us to share what we've learned.
Catharine Davies, March 2006