The Parish of Swanmore

The Parish of Swanmore is to be found in Hampshire, near the market town of Bishops Waltham.

Children in Church

We try to make all children and their families feel welcome as an integral part of the Church. We are happy for youngsters to join in as they would naturally: we do not frown at a little extraneous noise from time to time! We offer bags of soft toys to small children who stay in church with their parents for whom there is also a crèche for the under threes.

Older children are warmly welcome into Sunday Club which meets in the adjoining Paterson Centre, concurrently with the main Sunday service in church at 10.00 am.  There are groups for Scramblers (3-5), Climbers (5-7), Explorers (7-10) and Pathfinders  (10-13). Teenagers may join our CYFA group that also meets on Sunday mornings. Young people also assist in church as acolytes and servers, as well as playing in the church music group and singing in the junior choir at family services. All age ‘family’ services are our main act of worship on the first and third Sunday of each month. Sunday Club comes into church for the first part of the Family Communion on the First Sunday, and remains in church throughout the Third Sunday Family Service, which may also be a ‘parade service’ for local scout and guide groups.

Our Church of England (Aided) Primary School holds an assembly in church on Wednesday morning at 9.15 am.  Also in term time, pre-school children with their parents or carers gather once a month for Toddlers Praise.  This is in church at 9.30 am on the third Friday of the month and consists of an informal, sometimes chaotic and always joyous half hour of songs, games, a story and a prayer, followed by refreshments and a good natter.

All enquiries should be sent to office@stbarnabas.org.uk