11 children from the Church of the Ascension CE Primary School in Wall Heath, Dudley have achieved the Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award. The children were presented with their certificates by Bishop Martin at a special collective worship in school.
On Tuesday, Sian Morgan, Children, Youth and Families Minister in Kingswinford and Wall Heath, went to represent the Diocese at an afternoon tea at Lambeth Palace.
‘Sparkle Tots’ is church for pre-schoolers and their parents or carers. It takes place at St Nicholas Church in Droitwich on Mondays during term time.
St Laurence Church in Alvechurch, just outside Redditch, has a group of young people who attend church with their families. The Ministry team has been working with the group to explore ways of helping them feel that it’s their church too, involving them with different ministries.
Nathan Shipton started a new role as Youth Pastor for the Malvern Chase team in April 2024 bringing with him a fresh vision and passion for engaging with 11–18 year olds that has already made a difference across the churches’ communities.
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.
St John’s church in Halesowen is looking at ways they can build stronger links with and better serve their local community. This week they have launched a post exam calm space for year 11s about to embark on their GCSEs.
Heather Murphy has recently been appointed as Children, Youth and families Minister for three churches in Worcester that already work closely together.
The Lightbox team braved the rain on Good Friday to offer activities as well as free food and drink to young people in Worcester City Centre.
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!
St John’s Greenlands in Redditch has a thriving New Worshipping Community for families and children called ‘Activity Church’ which runs at the same time as their traditional Sunday morning service, in the adjacent church hall.
The churches of St Stephen, St George and Claines in Worcester came together on Mothering Sunday for their first joint service, which also included the commissioning of their new Children, Youth and Families’ Minister, Heather Murphy.
Bishop Martin recently visited Netherton CE Primary to see their provision for children with additional needs and disabilities and understand the lack of funding in this area, particularly for schools in Dudley Borough.
Matt Cook is the Children and Youth worker for Harvington Youth Project and has been in post seven months. St James the Great is part of the ARCH benefice and has a small congregation on Sundays, however they work together with the Baptist church as the steering group for Harvington’s thriving youth project.
Animato Children's choir is based at Leigh Church and started as part of the parish's work with the Calling Young Disciples programme. Recently, members of Animato Children’s Choir made their leaders and supporting family members incredibly proud when they took part in the Worcester Competitive Arts Festival at the Royal Grammar School.
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.
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.
An exciting new partnership for 2025, between the Diocese and iSingPOP, was launched at a breakfast event at St Wulstan’s Worcester on Thursday 6 February.
Claire Biggs started as New Worshipping Communities (NWC) Co-ordinator at St John’s in Halesowen in November 2024. This appointment will assist with our diocesan priority to create 100 New Worshipping Communities by 2030.
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.
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11th July 2025