Bubble Church at Trendlewood

Bubble Church is a Sunday church service especially for babies, toddlers, and young families. Described as, “a puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-croissant-fuelled, adventure,” Bubble Church has begun in Trendlewood. The idea to consider introducing it began after Treasurer and Bubble Church Champion, Sharon Brown had a conversation with a member of St John’s Church in Peasedown, who were about to launch Bubble Church themselves.

Sharon says, “Children and families work doesn’t usually fall in my remit but this just captured my imagination, and I thought, it could really work for us. So, I started to talk to a few people, and others became passionate too. We just took one step at a time”.

With no paid staff, limited time, and a part-time minister, the idea of launching a new ministry from scratch didn’t seem feasible. But Sharon says that’s where Bubble Church stood out. “We didn’t have the resources to rebuild family ministry from nothing. But this was ready-made. All the preparation is done for you. It’s a tried and tested formula and it works. You can hit the ground running.” 

Sharon says the journey to launching Bubble Church at Trendlewood was full of what felt like divine nudges, “It just felt more and more right. It felt God-led. Every time we came up against a barrier, the door opened again. When we couldn’t attend the London training, it felt like a roadblock until a new training was offered in Bristol. That made it possible. So, we kept going. And every step, God seemed to say, ‘Yes”

The launch of Bubble Church also meant change for the wider congregation, too. “It meant our usual Sunday morning service had to change once a month, but it actually made space for something new: a prayer gathering we’d wanted for a long time. So, Bubble Church didn’t just bless families it gave something back to the wider church as well.”

What’s surprised Sharon the most is the joy Bubble Church brings. “I never thought I’d lead a service. I don’t get up the front. But Bubble Church is scripted, and it feels like a little performance. I actually love doing it and so does everyone else. And it’s not just about the children. We’re reaching parents too, some who’ve never been to church and some who are coming back. It’s accessible, it’s repetitive in the best way, and it helps people understand what happens in church, without pressure.”

Sharon also believes that whether one family comes or ten, the heart behind the ministry remains the same. “It’s totally in God’s hands. If no one comes, we’ll rehearse. If one family comes, that’s enough.” Bubble Church at Trendlewood is about small steps that led to something meaningful. And it’s only just begun.