We are so pleased to share some amazing news from the Bridge Church in Otley, West Yorkshire, where their work amongst children is showing real signs of bearing fruit….
On Saturday 29th November the church broke all its previous records when about 85 children from around 50 families attended their Messy Church. Pictured is the short popular ‘story-time’ section of the Messy Church programme, which follows a time, in the church hall, where various craft activities take place. The session concludes with a meal, and this time extra provisions had to be sent for, so popular was the event!
The Bridge Church hosts two midweek Parents and Toddlers sessions, known as Toddlers@theBridge. Such is the reputation of these two sessions that they both run at full capacity. The church has been delighted that two of the families recently took the momentous step to have their children baptised. One of these occurred on Advent Sunday, and one is coming up in the run-up to Christmas.
The Church also is home to a number of different Uniformed Organisation groups (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides) and hosts an after school club (known as the Youth Drop-In) for Year 7 to Year 9 pupils which is run ecumenically.
In more good news for the church, they recently appointed a Children and Families Worker, thanks to a grant provided by the Yorkshire Synod. Their new worker commences on 5th January.
Isobel Evans, who is the Bridge Church’s elder responsible for children’s and young people’s work, and who also is the Leader of Toddlers@theBridge, and its Messy Church co-ordinator, said ‘we are so pleased that our work among children is bearing fruit, we have a very committed team who ensure that everyone is made to feel welcome, as we try to build relationships with young families.’