In Minehead, a simple idea that began just four years ago as a way of supporting parents with toddlers has grown into a regular meeting of Toddler Church; a place where families with small children can come together to play, learn and care for one another. More families are coming along each week. Some weeks there can be as many as 32, at other times the group may be smaller but those attending still share fun times and enjoy coming together.
"That is what it's all about," says Jules Perry, the Children and Families Worker in Minehead parish, who started Minehead Toddler Church. Jules is understandably overjoyed by the way the group has flourished; enabling people to make those connections with each other and with the church, “We have succeeded in planting a kind, welcoming, non-judgemental mini church for all to experience.”
At first Toddler Church took place inside with just one very popular outside session each half term. Throughout the pandemic Jules worked within the Covid restrictions to ensure that families and their young children were still supported. When people were allowed to meet with one other outside their household Jules did just that, she met with one family at a time for one hour outside. When those restrictions were lifted and larger groups could meet, so the number of families Jules saw also increased.
Jules says that time together enabled her to forge strong links, “It really cemented relationships with the individual families. Children who were babies when the pandemic hit hadn’t really been able to socialise, so the opportunity to meet other children was really important for their development and for their families.”
Now Toddler Church meets every week. It is always outside no matter what the weather. Each family is sent a text outlining where the group will meet with suggestions about what to bring. They play, discuss a Bible story and do activities based on the chosen story. As time has gone on more families have joined the group, Jules says, “We are joined by families from all different backgrounds and situations. New people are always welcome, but it is not about numbers, the key is that they are getting involved and are being part of the bigger church family.”