What has St Matthew's got to offer?

Under Development

Alpha	I-Spy Explorer's Club
Asian Congregation	Marriage Preparation
Blue Coat Schools - Infant Junior Senior	Mothers and Toddlers
Brownies and Guides
Carers and Toddlers
Child Protection	Prayer Requests
Children's church	Quiet Garden
Clay - Young Adults	Services
Church Bell Ringing	Smatterings Nursery
Concerts	St Matthew's Centre
Craft Group	Schools
Crèche
Hand Bell Ringing
Home Groups

What has St Matthew's got to offer preschool children?

Carers and Toddlers Back to Top

St Matthew's runs a Carers and Toddlers Group every Wednesday morning during term time. Twenty or so mums (and a couple of dads) get together with their children and there's always a friendly atmosphere. There's plenty of tea and coffee available and a chance to make and meet friends.

There are lots of activities of all sorts for the children and a story-teller comes in regularly. Some of the children take part, with help from the grown-ups, in our Family Services, Nativity Play and Mother's Day events.

Unfortunately due to high demand there is sometimes a waiting list to join the group. Please contact Joan Cartridge, the leader, for more details. The Group is in the course of moving from the church to the newly renovated St Matthew's Centre.

Smatterings Nursery Back to Top

St Matthew's has set up a full time day nursery close to the church on New Street. The building was fully refurbished as a dedicated nursery with the latest facilities in 2004. Smatterings has a dedicated and highly professional staff, but more than that it provides it calm and caring atmosphere for your children. Places are on a paid basis but there is some provision for discounts if you meet the criteria.

For more details, please follow the link to the Smatterings website.

Crèche Back to Top

Our 10am service, whether it's a Family Service or Communion, always has a crèche available in the children's chapel. There is a rota of parents who staff it, although the child's own parent should come too. There are crafts and other fun things to do in a safe environment where your children are always welcome.

Home Groups Back to Top

About 8 groups meet in the homes of church members, some during the day, others in the evening. They follow different programmes but during Lent they all follow a specially written course. See The Nomads or "Wednesday Welcome".

Rainbows

Baptism

What has St Matthew's got to offer school age children?

Schools Back to Top

St Matthew's is the Parish Church for no less than three Church of England schools - Blue Coat Infants, Juniors and Comprehensive. All three take their Christian ethos seriously and are closely involved in the life of the Church. For example, our clergy come in to take assemblies regularly, special services are held in St Matthew's and church members sit on the governing bodies of all three schools. In the case of Blue Coat Comprehensive, the whole school comes to church every Friday morning and our Youth Minister plays an active part in the life of the school.

For us a Christian ethos provides a whole set of values which young people today really need:

every child is a unique creation of God and is loved and valued by Him.

every child has talents which should not be buried and a light which must be allowed to shine.

God expects us to love our neighbour so we must treat each other well

Jesus calls us to "life in all its fullness".

God commands us to love Him with all our mind, so we should give each one the best possible education. These values provide a framework for our children to learn respect for the world, for themselves and for others.

Please see the schools' own websites for further details. Infant Junior Senior

Brownies and Guides Back to Top

Family Services

Children's Church

What has St Matthew's got to offer Youth?

Church Hill Praise

CYFA

Youth Centre

Soul Survivor

Youth Minister Back to Top