The monthly family service at Holy Trinity, Belbroughton, just outside Stourbridge, is thriving thanks to the addition of a new children’s choir linked to Belbroughton CE Primary School.
Choir rehearsals take place weekly after school with the choir attending the family service each month to showcase the songs they’ve learnt.
Church member John Penlington explains: “Around 18 months ago, the PCC agreed to pay one of the school’s teachers to set up the choir and lead rehearsals on the understanding that the choir would come along to our family service each month. We started with five or six children and now regularly have 15 in the choir, and they come to the service with their parents and grandparents.”
The family service is lay-led with a sermon-slot which is accessible for all ages. Before inviting the choir, the congregation was typically around 25 people, but now Holy Trinity often sees around 75 people coming. The children in the choir are aged between 6 and 10 and sing two children’s worship songs that they’ve been practising that month.
John continued: “It’s definitely improved our relationship with the school. The head sometimes also comes along and we’ve also recently had the school leavers service in church when we presented personally inscribed Bibles for all of the children who were moving on to other schools. But most importantly, it’s really revitalised our family service. Having the choir and their families there creates a wonderful atmosphere!”
The Revd Wyn Beynon said: “This simple idea has given a village church the chance to involve up to 75 people at the monthly family service - and it's all lay led. I just turn up (from another church) for coffee and chat... The collection covers the cost of employing the teacher!”
