“Vicar, will it be all right to bring our little child to church?” This was the genuine question of a parent who was concerned that their child would make a noise and disturb the Service.

In the conversation that followed, I discovered that the parent had interpreted our publicity about our “All-Age Services” at St Andrew’s and at St Mary’s to mean that that was the Service to which children could come.

Let me say, as clearly as I possibly can, children are always welcome at church. Whatever the Service. Whatever time of day. They are always welcome.

Of course, they may join in at a time that adults think inappropriate – children do that all the time! Happy noises can be coped with easily.  Unhappy ones need attention.

Wandering around the church is potentially dangerous. Solid wooden furniture hurts if you fall against it! So children need to be accompanied.

Please come prepared with something for them to do – not just a bag of sweets or biscuits! How about a book to read or write in? Perhaps a soft, quiet toy.

At church we try to help. We have space where they can play quietly.  At St Mary’s the children can go to a group of their own age during the 10.30am Service. Our facilities are being improved because we want to accommodate children more comfortably.

So please – when you come to church bring the children with you.  That’s the very best way that they learn how to take part in worship –

to watch, to learn and to try for themselves.