Stay and Play meet on Fridays from 10 – 11.15 in the church.
During each session there is an opportunity for children to play and do craft activities, while their parents share a hot drink and a chat. Children then have a snack together before a bible-based story and some songs. All parents and carers are welcome whether from Goathurst or the surrounding villages.
Kid’s night meets on a Friday night monthly in the village hall. There are games, crafts and activities for children, plus a light snack (burgers, pizza). Again, we welcome accompanied children from Goathurst and surrounding villages.
‘Kids @ Goathurst’ Update July 2026: It’s now 5 years since our ‘Kids (young Goathurstians) @ Goathurst’ initiative to welcome and meet the needs of the influx of new young families to the village began; to help them get to know each other and to feel part of our community.
Rev’d Nicki Bradford, newly arrived in our benefice, was tasked with leading our children and young families’ ministry, assisted by Brenda Smith, under the auspices of Goathurst Parochial Church Council.
Weekly ‘Stay and Play’ sessions were held in the Tynte pew of the church from 10-11.15 am on Fridays, open to babies and preschoolers and their parents. Hot drinks for parents and free play, a craft activity and storytime (with snacks) linked to Bible stories, ending with familiar nursery songs for the children, and a special ‘Goodbye’ song reminding each child (and their Mummies and Daddies and sometimes Grannies!) that ‘God loves you’.
Six months later, when this group was well established, monthly ‘Kids’ Night’ sessions for school aged children began, held in the village hall from 6-7.30pm, with the format of crafts, games and food. Whilst it was never intended that parents had to stay, they seemed to enjoy a cuppa and chat with each other as well as being alongside the children and to witness the developing relationships between the families over the years has been an unexpected blessing! The parents seem to value the sessions as much as the children!
The format of these groups has remained very much the same. New babies have arrived, ‘kids’ have graduated from one group to the next and some have become assistant helpers as part of their D of E Awards. As Nicki moved on, there is now a team of leaders who have undergone the church’s safer recruitment process.
As part of the Wilder Enmore and Goathurst initiative, the children have been involved in planting and creating a bug hotel, and an Easter Garden, with further plans to be implemented. There are also nature activity sheets freely available in the porch, for exploring the churchyard, which have proved useful holiday pastimes.
Currently, we have 15 families involved. 6 children regularly attend ‘Stay and Play’ and the time has extended to 11.30. There are usually 12-14 at ‘Kids’ Night as well as parents. At both groups we are delighted to frequently welcome visiting friends and grandchildren. Some families come from further afield than the village and newcomers are always welcome. (Contact Brenda 07790825207.) The sessions are free, though donations are always welcome. Both the Deanery Youth Fund and the Goathurst Charity have given financial support to the groups for which we are truly grateful.
We know that some parents and children visit the church at other times during the week to enjoy the space in the Tynte pew, which has been an added bonus. Church is not just for Sundays!
P.S. If you have noticed the odd coin lurking in a pew, it will be because the children missed it during the weekly ‘treasure hunt’ at going home time! They delight in finding the hidden coins and posting them in the coin drop box-a fundraiser for the SAPP project so, if you have any spare coins, please do pass them to Brenda, it will save her changing notes at the Post Office so as not to disappoint the children! And do spot the dinosaur stickers in the Tynte pew that feature in a favourite song!
For more details of either of these groups please contact Brenda Smith on 07790 825207.