Children & Families
Our Commitment
Children are particularly welcome at Trumpington Parish Church. Children are an important part of our church community and on Sundays are regularly involved in our worship, as well as having activities of their own. We also run a variety of clubs and activities for different age groups.
We are commited to safeguarding children. Our policy is available here and in the church porch.
Weekday Groups and Clubs
Salt Club (Key Stage 2)
Junior Choir (Year 1 upwards, including Secondary School)
M&M's Youth Group (Age 11+)
Melody Makers (babies and toddlers)
Holiday Clubs (next one: July 2012, 'On your marks' Olympic-themed fun!)
Sundays
Church for children - every Sunday at 10am. It's as simple as that!
On the first Sunday of the month, we have an All Age service, at which both the Adult and Junior Choirs sing. The worship is designed to be accesible to both the younger and more mature members of our congregation, and often involves more participatory teaching. Children and young people are involved in leading parts of the service and serving as acolytes.
The 'Third Sunday' service (on the third Sunday of the month at 10am) is a more informal service for all ages. You can read more about this service here.
Junior Church
Junior Church takes place on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month. All children are in church for the first part of the service, as we gather to worship together. Just after the first hymn the children are invited to the front of the church for a prayer, before walking over to the Bakehouse. The children and leaders then have a time of worship and teaching, normally based around the readings that are read in church on that Sunday. We sing songs, play games, have craft activities, read stories and pray together. In this way, both adults and children are nourished spiritually through age-appropriate teaching and worship. Junior Church moves back into church during the Peace, so that the children are able to participate in the Eucharistic Prayer and receive a blessing with their families.
During All Age and Junior Church Sunday services, parents and carers with small children may like to sit in the children's area in the right hand aisle of the church - where there are age-appropriate toys - so that they are still able to be in church for the service.
Children's Worker
In July 2010, a Children's Worker was appointed to work jointly with our Church and also St Mark's Church, Newnham. This appointment grew out of our growing ministry to children and the need to resource this ministry appropriately. Emma Hopegood joined us in September 2010 and has also taken on the role of PA to the Vicar.
Emma grew up in Somerset and attended Bath Abbey, where she was a chorister between the ages of 11 and 18. She read Music as a Choral Scholar at King's College London and has since worked in academic administration. Emma has experience working with young people in both the Church of England and the Anglican Church of Canada and studied Theology to A Level. She is particularly interested in the spirituality of children and thoroughly enjoys messy craft activities!
Emma is responsible for the programme followed by Junior Church, which is designed to follow the same lectionary and thematic material as is being studied in church. In this way, both adults and children follow a liturgy of the word and teaching which is related, but age-appropriate.
Emma is also involved in the leadership of the Junior Choir, and is particularly interested in vocal technique for children's developing voices. Emma helps train members of the Junior Choir working towards their RSCM Voice for Life medals. She also runs our Melody Makers babies and toddlers music group.
Emma's work also involves outreach to children in our local communities. She is involved in the leadership of the Salt Club at Fawcett Primary School.
