Children and Young People

Important update: 21/03/2020

We’ve had to suspended our face-to-face activities for children and young people for the time-being, but please go to www.facebook.com/stleonardslexden where we hope to post activities and content over the coming weeks. Please find details of our usual pattern of activities below.

At St Leonard’s we love to welcome children, young people and families.

Children and young people are a valued and active part of our community, of our worship, and of the church’s life. Here you’ll find details of the activities we offer every Sunday, as well as our weekly and other groups.

We strive to offer something fun and engaging for people of every age!

First time at St Leonard’s?

Are you visiting or joining us for the first time? We know that it can be nerve-wracking bringing children to a church you’re not familiar with - so we always do our very best to make you welcome, whether this is your first or your hundredth visit! We want to make St Leonard’s a place where people of all ages can come to experience something of God’s love without fear of being judged by others.

On Sundays:

Junior Church meets each Sunday during the 9.45am service, except on the first Sunday of the month when we have an all-age service. The group is for school-age children. Through a variety of engaging activities, games and discussions, we have fun learning about God and thinking about real life.

For those who are younger, we usually have a Creche - but if you’d rather keep your child with you during the service, there are some bags of activities and books at the back of church.

You can find what Junior Church will be up to during the coming month on the special page of our Monthly Magazine.

All-Age Eucharist is a service for people of all ages and backgrounds. We hope it gathers the whole church community together. It is less formal than our Parish Eucharist. Our children and young people often play an active part in the service (if they are happy to).

Other groups:

Messy Church – MESS! FUN! STORIES! CRAFT! SONGS! This popular and informal afternoon gathering is aimed at younger primary and nursery school age children. We share some of the classic stories of the Bible through crafts, stories, song and worship. At the end, we all sit down to have a meal together. Messy Church usually happens six times a year, to find out when our next Messy Church session is, please email: [email protected]

OMG+ is our youth group. It meets regularly (sometimes on Sundays, sometimes during the week) to do all sorts of exciting things – from sleeping out for the night to raise money for the homeless, to ten pin bowling, pizza parties, and gardening. We like to think about ways in which we can help in the world, and to share our experiences of faith and life. Most of all we like to have fun!

Baby & Toddler Group - Wednesdays, 9.30am to 11.30 am in the Church hall during term time.

Do you care for young children? Why not join us on a Wednesday morning? Mums, dads, grandparents, childminders and nannies: you are all welcome to come and enjoy a drink and a chat whilst your children play! There are lots of toys, play dough, craft, singing and finger rhymes.

This is a well-known and friendly group where many new friendships continue to be formed. Come along and give us a try. There’s no waiting list. Just walk up the slope at the back of the church and the hall is just beyond the walled Garden of Remembrance. To find out more contact Siân on (01206) 577392 or email siansimpkins (at) gmail.com, replacing (at) with @ or visit our St Leonard’s Baby and Toddler Group on Facebook.

Associated groups:

We’re delighted that Beaver, Cub and Scout groups meet in our Church Hall during the week. Details of the 2nd Lexden Scout Group can be found on their website.

If you want to find out more about our work with Children and Young People, or about the work we do with our local schools, please get in touch: [email protected]