St Catherine’s CE school and St Barnabas Church in Kidderminster have achieved a silver Church and School Partnership Award. Accompanied by representatives from the church, school and Diocese, Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Mark Badger, attended a special school assembly to present this joint award.
The latest clergy study day focussed on how churches and schools could be partners in mission. Led by the diocesan Education team, clergy from across the Diocese gathered together to explore how churches can best support our local schools and work together with them.
St Barnabas' Church, Rainbow Hill in Worcester, opened all day on Wednesday 3 September to pray for all those returning to school.
Last week, staff at St Clement’s CE Primary School, were formally commissioned into their roles for the new academic year during a special service held at St John-in-Bedwardine Church in Worcester.
Over 600 children from 19 local primary schools plus 100 volunteers joined forces at Malvern Priory during the week of Lifepath to celebrate the lives of the Benedictine monks who founded the church almost 1000 years ago.
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On Friday 20 June the Diocesan Education Team hosted their annual headteachers’ and senior leaders’ conference. This year, the conference was entitled: ‘Towards a Sustainable Future’ and was themed to inform our leaders and support them in their journey towards net zero carbon.
St James Church in Hartlebury village near Kidderminster has launched a new monthly energetic church service called ‘Jamie’s’ for children and families featuring ISingPOP’s catchy worship songs and dance routines. It takes place on the second Sunday of the month in the church at 4pm.
Pupils from years 4 and 5 at Bengeworth CE Academy in Evesham recently spent a day visiting Selwyn College in Cambridge.
Instead of the children from St Anne’s CE Primary School coming to church for an Easter service, a team from Bewdley Parish took Easter to school!
Pupils from Hindlip CE First School have taken part in an exciting environmental initiative, planting over 150 trees in Bull Meadow, Fernhill Heath. The Year 3 and 4 children, armed with shovels and big smiles, worked together to create a greener future as part of a national tree-planting experiment.
Pupils in Key Stage 2 at St Barnabas CE Primary School in Worcester took part in a special assembly on Ash Wednesday to learn about Lent, receive ashes and share communion together.
Kirsty Pierson has been recruited by iSingPOP and seconded to the Diocese to work with seven churches initially as part of a pilot project to strengthen links between schools and churches, bringing local families into this one community.
As more children, youth and families’ workers have been recruited in the diocese over the last few years, the diocesan Programme Lead for Children and Young People, Simon Hill, has created a Children, Youth and Families Ministry Network for paid workers.
As a paid Children and Families’ worker at Pershore Abbey (funded in part with a grant from the Healthier Churches Fund), Sam Andrews has been able to expand the Abbey’s work with children, families and schools in the local area.
Tardebigge parish have launched a new Forest Cafe church at St Bartholomew's that meets on the first Sunday of the month.
Last Thursday, Oasis UK founder Steve Chalke shared his ‘Manifesto for Hope’ with attendees from churches across the Diocese at an evening event at Top Church. ‘Manifesto for Hope’ sets out 10 principles for transforming the lives of children and young people and their families, and how churches can and should be involved in that.
Debra Hill has been recruited as Children and Families Worker for the Worcester Southeast Team and St. Barnabas. Debra has lots of ideas and is very keen to get going. She hopes to see children’s ministry flourish at all the churches.
To start the school term, the Church of the Ascension in Wall Heath held their annual bag blessing service.
Top Church (St Thomas & St Luke’s Church) held a heritage Open Day on Saturday 7th September to showcase their innovative Digital Tour which aims to share the history of the church and the role it has played in supporting the residents of Dudley.
‘Experience Dudley’ is a faith, community and heritage project that started as a pilot at Top Church in 2022, partnering with one local school. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this year staff have been able to expand it to partner with three local schools, reaching close to 1000 children.
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17th October 2025